Human-Cow Embryos?!

—By Vince Beiser

| Mon Nov. 6, 2006 4:28 PM PST

We interrupt the pre-election political chatter for something that's just too twisted not to briefly blog about: Researchers in the United Kingdom have applied for permission to create embryos made by fusing human DNA with cows' eggs. The goal is to get around the shortage of all-human embryos that's holding up stem-cell research. Apparently embryos with a little less humanity and a little more bovinity are easier to generate. Don't they read "The Island of Dr. Moreau" in Britain anymore?

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