A team of researchers in China has reported for the first time the live birth of a monkey that contains a high proportion of cells derived from a monkey stem cell line. This "chimeric" monkey is composed of cells that originate from two genetically distinct embryos of the same species of monkey. This has previously been demonstrated in rats and mice but, until now, has not been possible in other species, including non-human primates. The details of the research are reported November 9 in the journal Cell.

Gattacca here we come.

This “chimeric” monkey is composed of cells that originate from two genetically distinct embryos of the same species of monkey. This has previously been demonstrated in rats and mice but, until now, has not been possible in other species, including non-human primates.

  • TauZero
    4·
    1 year ago

    To be clear, human chimeras already exist naturally, from the fusion of twin embryos in utero. Most of them go entire lives without even realizing it. Only occasionally it pops up in the news when someone receives a negative paternity test and after lots of stress and hairpulling and doctor’s visits it turns out that their blood comes from a different cell line than their balls.

    Human-ape chimeras are the stuff of bioethicists’ nightmares and thankfully illegal everywhere civilized.