Between the Species

Article Title

Nonhuman Chimeras with Human Brain Cells

Authors

Eric Sotnak, The University of Akron

Abstract

Many people find the notion of blending humans and nonhumans together to create animals whose brains are composed entirely of human brain cells disturbing. I argue that these moral qualms lack adequate justification. I consider a number of reasons for objecting to the creation of such chimeras and argue that none of these reasons withstand scrutiny. I argue that the only plausible objections to these chimeras would require that they possess morally significant properties that would be lacked by similar, non-chimeric animals, but that there is no good reason to think this would be the case.

Recommended Citation

Sotnak, Eric (2011) "Nonhuman Chimeras with Human Brain Cells," Between the Species: Vol. 13: Iss. 7, Article 8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15368/bts.2007v13n7.8
Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/bts/vol13/iss7/8