Geneticist seeks "adventurous female" to give birth to Neanderthal clone.

I wonder if ethics went into this decision. From God Discussion, because one wonders if Neanderthals were Christians (with news video about the project at the link): http://www.goddiscussion.com/106599/scientist-seeks-adventurous-fem...

A Harvard geneticist is seeking an "adventurous female human" willing to become pregnant with a baby Neanderthal clone.

Professor George Church has, over the years, collected enough Neanderthal DNA from fossil bones to reconstruct the species. The UK's Telegraph reports that Neanderthals are believed to be one of the ancestors of modern man and became extinct 33,000 years ago. Church believes that altering the human genome could also provide the answers to curing diseases such as cancer and HIV, and hold the key to living to 120.

James K.

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Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on January 22, 2013 at 7:01am

This smacks a bit of running 50-yard wind sprints before someone's learned to walk.  Sure, maybe we CAN do this.  Why isn't someone asking if we SHOULD do it?

Permalink Reply by Randall Smith on January 22, 2013 at 7:37am

I can see some woman willing to do this. We all like attention! But let's think about the child. Yikes! By the way, it's been shown that most of us have a small percentage of Neanderthal DNA in us.

Permalink Reply by jay H on January 24, 2013 at 6:11am

My wife is just out of the fertile years, but said "If I was younger..."

Permalink Reply by Greg on January 24, 2013 at 3:03pm

Just to be safe, I'd plan for a C section. Going natural on this one could be a gamble.

I do see a reality show in this though. "Today the baby kicked a bunch. I think my spine has been re-aligned".

Permalink Reply by booklover on January 24, 2013 at 3:36pm

Technically I'm still young enough to have a baby.  Would I do this? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!

Permalink Reply by booklover on January 24, 2013 at 4:13pm

Actually Peter, maybe the real Neanderthals are smarter than the religious nut-jobs. ;)

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on January 24, 2013 at 4:06pm

If we are able to do something, should we?    Oh! Loren, I just read your reply. 

What about cloning Stephen Hawking's brain ... not his disease. 

Permalink Reply by booklover on January 24, 2013 at 4:12pm

Your idea about cloning Stephen Hawkings brain is a much better idea Joan! :)

Permalink Reply by michele ricketts on February 9, 2013 at 11:00pm

In the article it is part of the genome , not a whole clone, so only introducing a biodiversity in humans. However it begs that in the end scientists are going to do what they want , anyway
I dont think it is that dramatic. We already have ugly human children in the world with speech diabilities and a low IQ, in the worst case scenario. ( I presume they can detect and abort if its severely handicapped, before the first trimester)
But i don't agree in giving an inch to take a yard later. Already they can splice an animal with a human. Its supposed to be restrained to stem-cell but i just dont think there is any consolidated legislation in place that will STAY in place. It seems research and experimentation happens piece-meal and not under one governable pyramid.It could be undertaken in another country too.
For all the benefits gained from dna tampering, there will also be sad, dangerous and unethical stuff that these bright scientists don't want to address,. Unbridled optimism its called. Does it take a calaminty to enforce caution?
What's more i think its a nightmare where most people live to be 120 years old, or worse, as never aging so never dying. It's children and young minds that invigorate the world. In the article they mention the great 120 yrs as a carrot.
We dont need more biodiversity. Africans have it in Africa ; white people don't as only a small amount migrated out.
Never mind all the effort to produce an ugly kid- why cant all our scientic energy stop being hybrid and be useful in a mundane way.?

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