The U.S. Senate has voted to block an amendment to a technology bill that would have banned unethical research experiments creating human-animal hybrid embryos, also known as chimeras.

The amendment to the Endless Frontier Act was added by U.S. senators Mike Braun, Steve Daines and James Lankford – all Republicans. It narrowly failed to pass in a vote of 49-48.

Had the amendment passed, the following would have been classed as an offence punishable by up to 10 years in prison, or by a fine of at least $1 million, or both:

• The creation of human-animal chimeras.
• An attempt to create a human-animal chimera.
• The transfer of a non-human embryo to a human womb, and vice versa.

“Engaging in such unethical experiments should be a crime”

Senator Braun released a statement affirming that “Human life is distinct and sacred… Engaging in such unethical experiments should be a crime.”

A “chimera” is an organism that contains cells from two different species, such as a human-animal hybrid embryo created in immoral laboratory tests.

Chimera is an appropriate modern use of a term that was also used in Ancient Greek mythology to describe a monstrous fire-breathing hybrid creature, depicted as a lion with a goat’s head growing out of its back, with a tail ending with a dragon’s head.

In April, SPUC Director of Campaigns, Antonia Tully, commented on the outrageous tests of Chinese and American scientists that created human-monkey hybrid embryos:

“Mixing up essential components of human with non-human species to create a new entity is a violation of the sanctity of human life.”

While research on human-animal chimeras cannot receive federal funding, it does currently occur in private labs with little oversight.

One of the bill’s sponsors, Senator Lankford, said: “We shouldn’t need to clarify in law that creating animal-human hybrids or ‘chimeras’ is ethically unthinkable, but sadly the need for that very clear distinction has arrived.”

The mixing of human and non-human cells is not new. The UK’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 allows animal and human genetic material to be mixed to create hybrid embryos that can be kept alive for a maximum of 14 days.

“More than troubling”

SPUC’s Michael Robinson said: “The continued focus on experimenting with human-animal hybrid embryos is more than troubling.

“It is especially unfortunate given the track record of trying to use embryos to find cures for disease is extremely poor.

“One reason for this is that scientists discovered that uncontrolled growth of embryonic stem cells produces tumours, limiting the usefulness of these cells.”

SPUC Chief Executive John Smeaton said: “The deliberate blurring of the boundaries between humans and other species is wrong and strikes at the heart of what makes us human.

“It is creating a category of beings regarded as sub-human who can be used as raw material to benefit other members of the human family, effectively creating a new class of slaves.”