I am squicked now

[owl]

I am opposed to human embryo experimentation anyway but this is just nasty.

Hmm. How far along would one of these be viable? Obviously the mitDNA would be bovine, but what would happen--actually, ick.

Comments

[tree_and_leaf]

I saw that on the Grauniad earlier, and was also disturbed.

[emmy-roo.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine that the mitDNA would have that much effect on the embryo, unless they contain glycoprotein markers that mark them for destruction, in which case the viability of the embryo will be extremely limited. They would still produce ATP. In fact, the very independence of the mitochondria makes them less likely to effect the rest of the cell.

I can certainly see the value in this. I mean, my own grandmother suffers from Parkinson's Disease! But I can't condone any experimentation that ends the life of a viable human embryo. It makes me heartsick.

[owl]

Yes; obviously the advance of medical science is a good thing, but you can pay too much. It's like buying one set of lives—or longer lives— with another set of lives.