RantCrush Top 5: January 27, 2017

It’s becoming harder and harder to figure out if we’re living in the real world or in the upside down–scientists have officially created an embryo that is part pig, part human. The scientists injected human stem cells into a pig embryo, which was then implanted into a sow.

This so-called chimera, which some scientists have been working toward for a long time, is a big accomplishment. But don’t worry! It’s not meant to start some new human/animal race; the goal is to produce animal embryos with functioning human organs so that organs can be available for people in need of transplants.

Beyond the “ick” factor of the human-pig hybrid: Can this science help save lives? Our @NatGeo report https://t.co/L995cqMANe via @NatGeo

— Susan Goldberg (@susanbgoldberg) January 26, 2017

The practice is controversial and has been vigorously discussed because of the ethical dilemma it poses. It’s laudable to want to provide sick people with organ transplants–22 people in the U.S. die every day waiting for transplants. But critics claim that because stem cells can develop into any kind of human tissue, this opens up the possibility of accidentally creating an animal with a human brain, or with human reproductive organs. And that would be a little too scary.

via GIPHY

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.