Hybrids have been produced in secret for the past three years to study possible treatments for a wide range of diseases. The truth became known as a result of a parliamentary inquiry.
Figures cited by the Daily Mail show that 155 “mixed” embryos containing human and animal genetic material have been created since the adoption of the Human Reproduction and Embryology Act in 2008.
The law legalized the creation of various hybrids, including the fertilization of an animal's egg with human sperm, as well as the production of "cybrids" - animal cells into which the nucleus of a human cell is implanted, and "chimeras" - organisms in which human cells are mixed with animal embryos.
Scientists say these methods could be used to develop embryonic stem cells that could be used to defeat a number of incurable diseases. Three laboratories in the UK (at King's College London, at the Universities of Newcastle and Warwick) were licensed to conduct research after the Act came into force.
Lord Elton, an independent member of the House of Lords, said: “I have opposed the creation of human-animal hybrids in parliament on principle. None of the scientists can give any justification for such experiments. From an ethical point of view, this can never be justified, it discredits us as a country."
A still from the sci-fi movie Chimera (2009) with a human-animal hybrid
Lord Elton called the promises of scientists to find with the help of hybrids a cure for all diseases known to mankind "emotional blackmail."
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Josephine Quintavall, a pro-life (anti-abortion) activist with Comment on Reproductive Ethics, said: “I am terrified that this was happening and we didn’t know anything about it. Why did they keep it a secret? If they are proud of what they do, then why did we have to make a parliamentary inquiry to find out about it?"
A group of leading British scientists are calling for new regulations to prevent hybrid experiments such as "by injecting human stem cells into the brains of primates."
However, Professor Robin Lovell-Badge of the National Institute for Medical Research said there was nothing to worry about, as by law hybrid embryos are destroyed within 14 days. He also noticed that these experiments have a good purpose and have a moral imperative.
“As long as the experiments are being carried out with sufficient control, the country should be proud of them,” he said.
Human-animal hybrids are also being created in other countries, where research data is much less controlled or not controlled at all.