It’s Science, Not a Freak Show

The latest focus of apprehension over the headlong rush of biotechnology
involves the creation of animal-human hybrids, known as chimeras. Distinguished
groups of ethicists and scientists have been pondering what steps should
be taken, if any, to head off the nightmarish possibility of a human
brain’s becoming trapped inside an animal form, silently screaming, "Let
me out," or a human embryo’s being gestated by mice. It is fascinating
– some would say terrifying – to contemplate, but these weird, far-out
possibilities should not distract us from welcoming more mundane experiments
with chimeras that will be needed to advance science.

New
York times editorial