Should this sick professor be sacked?

This is from the dreaded Mail though - so I do wonder if it's true

you are right bags homo sapiens and neanderthals subspecies and could probably breed. Probably did but there is still debate.

The definition of species is that interbreding is not possible between different species. If breeding is possible between two apparently different species to produce viable offspring (i.e. capable of reproducing if it lives to adulthood), then, by definition, they are not separate species.

tegan, it isn't possible for separate species to breed. The human/gorilla story was fiction and still is. This prof is not suggesting breeding between separate species. Firstly, Neanderthals and Sapiens are not completely separate species. Secondly, the article seems to be suggesting that Neanderthal DNA be put into a human embryo. Completely different from inter-species copulation.

Cloning humans is illegal in many countries, including the UK, and there has been a variable degree of success in cloning other mammals so I don't think this is one for us to hold our collective breath for.

I googled it Nellie . What was even sadder was that the beautiful baby that was in it died after it had been filmed. Hard to believe that something that seemed so far fetched at the time is now possible. A series that enthralled and horrified me.

tegan Well remembered! I knew the child was Gor but could not get the name of the Drama.

If, ( and it's an incredibly BIG "if") this was ever allowed to happen my only thought would be for the poor "creature" that was created just to satisfy the morbid curiosity of a "Nutty Professor" .

The other question that goes through my mind is why?

The child was called Gor.

First Born it was called.

Nelliemoser; it starred Charles Dance and it was heartbreaking. I can't recall what it was called. It's the sort of idea that I referred to on another thread. Mustn't have ideas like this putting people off the idea of stem cell research or [as I believe you have to do] donate stem cells.

Sounds like an idea for a screenplay, doesn't it? What's the betting that someone will take it up - or has it been done already?

Cheelu

Like you I thought it must be April Fools Day.

I am not very often shocked at something but I must admit I do find this very weird. It verges on the absurd to me but I have to say I would be fascinated to see what happened.

Why would you think that? No, not a joke, just a publicity stunt.

Oh my word I thought this was a joke

Appalling but it would be interesting!

It would be a bloody awful thing to do to the experimental child wouldn't it?

Hmm! Do not think he is 'sick' more likely a driven and single minded scientist!

However I would think that the chances of it happening are not that big.

I am not convinced that a Neanderthal born into the 21Century would be able to demonstrate different ways of thinking to help current humans

‘When the time comes to deal with an epidemic or getting off the planet, it’s conceivable that their way of thinking could be beneficial.'

This person would not be brought up in the way/environment of a Neanderthal child and though the Nature / Nurture debate is far from decided I think there would be considerable influence on thought processes by the people with whom the child/young adult grew up with so how would anyone know what was neanderthal thinking and what was nurtured?

Interesting though!

science fiction really.
We'll believe it when an elephant gives birth to a mammoth. And that is much more likely as there are some deep frozen mammoths in the permafrost so much better source of DNA than a few old skulls.

Sounds like a huge load of nothing to me.

I cannot see that ever being allowed either.

Did anyone see the TV series some (probably many) ears ago? Was it called Gor? Where a scientist himself impregnated a female Gorilla? and raised the resuting offspring?

Definitely kali

I think Neandrathals have had a bad press

Oddly that's the bit that struck me too Jess

If your cat is going to contribute to GN, petallus I think my Grace might want to join in!