Scientists have created a human-pig 'chimera', raising the possibility of one day growing organs for transplant inside another animal, but what are some of the ethical and societal implications of this procedure? Consider this issue with your students by showing the folllowing news report by CBC News, or the article published by National Geographic.
Guiding Questions for Students
How does the meaning of the word "chimera" impact our understanding of mammalian physiology? Does it promote any misconceptions?
What is the underlying tone presented in the CBC News report and the National Geographic article? Identify any biased language that either supports or opposes the research.
What are the other ethical implications of this research?
For example, ask students to consider if:
Pigs are not suitable hosts for these organs. Can we use primates instead? Wouldn't it be ideal to use humans? Maybe some would suggest using people in a permanent vegetative state (coma) or suffering from senile dementia (might not display the key characteristics of intentional action, self-reflection and self-understanding) to be used as hosts for these experiments instead.
The research is used to enhance certain mamalian characteristics. For example, should researchers introduce human forebrain glial cells into a dog's brain to make a dog "smarter"?
Comparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of different species and it has a very important role in science, especially biology. This is an example of how comparative anatomy was used in the past to justify many atrocities like ethnic cleansing, and slavery.
In the past, scientists like Carl Linnaeus categorized different groups of people based on small differences in scull anatomy or other anatomical features and developed the concept of race. Today, you can find their published scientific reports that compare these anatomical features (mostly exaggerated and scientifically inaccurate) from various parts of world.These papers are no longer considered scientific because they were developed for political purposes, they are simply inaccurate, and they perpetuate misconceptions, discrimination and racism in society. Below is a video that summarizes some of Linnaeus' research in the 17th Century.
PBS offers a really great tool, The Power of an Illusion, which is a companion to California Newsreel's three part documentary about race in society, science, and history that dispels common misconceptions about the concept of race as a biological construct and answers several important questions in an interactive format. This tool offers quizzes, and links, presentations, films, and so many wonderful resources that will allow you to have a conversation about race science and the role of comparative anatomy in scientific racism in your class.
As educators it is important we offer an unbiased view of controversial topics like this. Below is a link from PBS NOVA Online to a conversation between two leading anthropologists, Dr. Loring Brace of the University of Michigan and Dr. George Gill of the University of Wyoming, who fall on either side of the debate about whether race exists in biologic terms, to state their points of view.