Chimera Studies

Question 1

What are considered Chimera studies?

Answer 1

Chimera studies are research experiments in which human embryo cells are added to animal gastrulas.

Question 2

What are the applications of Chimera studies?

Answer 2

Growing human organs
Study human development
Generate disease models
Study tissue regeneration

Question 3

What animals are considered in Chimera studies?

Answer 3

Sheep
Monkeys
Nice
Pigs

Question 4

What is the concern with Chimera studies?

Answer 4

Development of humanlike cognitive abilities in animals

Human embryos growing in animals

Question 5

What is France’s standpoint on Chimera studies?

Answer 5

Law in France forbids creating chimeric human embryos yet language is not clear when it comes to adding human embryo cells to animal embryos.

Question 6

What is UK’s standpoint on Chimera studies?

Answer 6

UK requires extra ethical review when using primate cells, brain cells or germ cells that may affect the animal’s behavior or appearance.

Question 7

What is Germany’s standpoint on Chimera studies?

Answer 7

In Germany, law forbids combining human embryo cells with animal cells, but not the introduction of human cells into an animal embryo.

Question 8

What is Japan’s standpoint on Chimera studies?

Answer 8

Japan uses a case by case approach. Embryos can not develop beyond primitively appearance and be added to animals.

Question 9

What is US standpoint on Chimera studies?

Answer 9

There is no regulation or legal restriction. Halts of funding have proposed a case by case review.

Question 10

What experiments create the most controversy for the NIH?

Answer 10

Adding human embryo cells to early vertebrate embryos

Adding human embryo cells to post gastrula phase.

Question 11

Who would review chimeric experiments?

Answer 11

An internal steering committee composed of scientists, ethicists and animal welfare experts

Question 12

What factors would the NIH steering committee will consider?

Answer 12

The type of human cells used.
Where the cells might end up in the body.
How the addition of cells change the animal’s appearance and behaviour.

Question 13

What aspects NIH wants to tighten up?

Answer 13

The use of human embryonic cells in primates at any given point of the development.
Extend a ban on breeding chimeric embryos that might develop reproductive potential.