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Interspecies Mixtures and the Status of Humanity

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Book cover Is this Cell a Human Being?

Abstract

What does it mean to be a human? Could the mixing of human and nonhuman materials threaten human identity and, if so, how might this happen? This chapter explores such questions in the light of current biological understanding, discussing various features of human life that allegedly mark it off from non-human life, ultimately concluding that any associated characteristics need to be viewed in a holistic manner. The scientific rationale underlying research with various entities that have latterly prompted the greatest controversy is then analyzed in relation to contemporary claims regarding such proposals. Finally, possible approaches towards the ethical evaluation of research involving novel interspecies combinations are presented.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which had ultimately never refused to grant any research license applications.

  2. 2.

    Hansard Official Report (House of Lords), 19th November 2007; Columns 708–09.

  3. 3.

    Sections 1(1) and 1(2)(a) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (c. 14).

  4. 4.

    Sections 3(3)(a) and 3(4) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (c. 37).

  5. 5.

    The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, 10th December 1948), Article 16.

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  1. University of Liverpool, The Biosciences Building, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK

    Neville Cobbe

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  1. The Institute for Interdisciplinary Stud, Berninastr. 85, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland

    Antoine Suarez

  2. , Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Rue Michel-Servet 1, Geneva, 1211, Switzerland

    Joachim Huarte

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Cobbe, N. (2011). Interspecies Mixtures and the Status of Humanity. In: Suarez, A., Huarte, J. (eds) Is this Cell a Human Being?. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20772-3_9

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