Senate Didn’t Pass a Bill Allowing the Creation of Human/Animal Hybrids
The Claim
The U.S. Senate approved the passage of the Endless Frontier Act, which allows the creation of “chimeras,” or human/animal beings.
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Emerging story
The Endless Frontier Act (formally titled S.1260) just passed in the Senate. The bill focuses on scientific endeavors and restrictions. It has also been accused of continuing to allow researchers to create human/animal hybrids, colloquially known as “chimeras.” This accusation was first made by Republican Senator Mike Braun.
Braun attempted to add an amendment that would explicitly forbid “transferring a human embryo to a non-human womb and vice-versa.” This amendment was rejected by the Democrat-majority Senate, leading the claim to go viral.
Misbar’s Analysis
There’s no evidence to suggest that this is going to lead to scientists making human/animal hybrids, particularly given the widely-accepted 14-day chimeric embryo rule. The reason why the amendment wasn’t passed may be due to ongoing research on chimeric organs, or living human organs grown on animals that can be safely transplanted to the people who need them. This will reduce the need for human donors and ensure a steady supply of fresh organs.
Scientists have created chimeras for decades for organ transplant research and to test drugs. Bioethicist Insoo Hyun told NPR: “There is a way to genetically engineer both the embryo and the stem cells so that the stem cells will only make a particular organ. Nobody wants a chimeric embryo to grow into a part-human, part-animal thing that has human cells from head to toe mixed in.”
