Is a Humanzee possible?

[Pyotr Tchaikovsky]

I read one of Dawkins' essay sometime back, and he says humans and chimps are closely related and a hybrid might well be possible. Can someone explain all this in layman's terms? Is it true that a Soviet scientist attempted this in the 20s?

[Revy]

I think the question is not if it can be done, but why it would be done.

[scarletghoul]

Is it true that a Soviet scientist attempted this in the 20s?
That's an interesting rumour. I've never heard it before but it sounds a lot like bullshit propaganda, to highlight the immorral nature of those crazy russians and their godless ideology

[Revy]

That's an interesting rumour. I've never heard it before but it sounds a lot like bullshit propaganda, to highlight the immorral nature of those crazy russians and their godless ideology

There's also a theory that it was done in Orange Park, Florida and the hybrid was killed soon after. I watched a documentary on the subject centering around the fake humanzee Oliver. It's listed (along with the Soviet claims) in this article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanzee).

[Dimentio]

There have been some experiments on-going. Was a Russian scientist during the tsarist era who tried to inseminate women with ape sperms. He continued with those experiments during the 1920's, until decision-makers saw what was going on and terminated his funding.

The same happened with the Soviet scientist in the 1960's who transplanted the head of a small dog to the body of a large dog. He was apparently forced to quit from the institution and was then given a new job as a janitor. In the USA during the same time, an American professor succeeded in transplanting the brain from an ape to another ape.

[Dooga Aetrus Blackrazor]

I don't know about a live-birth being possible. However, it's probably theoretically possible with scientific advancement. The identities "human" and "chimpanzee" are on a continuum. If you alter humans enough, someone might eventually say you've created a Humanzee.

On a side note, this concept is probably very supported by furries.

[Dimentio]

I wouldn't really look forward to creating a "humanzee". What would be the point? What would be the result except for a child who most likely would be very lonely?

[Dr Mindbender]

Must.Resist.To.Make.George.Bush.Joke.

[Coggeh]

Absolutely not. The whole definition of a species is a an organism that can only reproduce with each other. Humans cannot produce a hybrid with any member of the ape family. I don't know why Dawkins suggested such a thing: maybe as a gimmick to show how closely related we are to the ape? but its simply untrue as far as i can see.

[Luisrah]

The whole definition of a species is a an organism that can only reproduce with each other.

Actually it's two organisms that can reproduce and create a fertile organism.

A horse and a donkey can mate, and a a viable mule is born. And horses and donkeys aren't of the same species. The thing is that the mule isn't fertile.

[Coggeh]

Actually it's two organisms that can reproduce and create a fertile organism.

A horse and a donkey can mate, and a a viable mule is born. And horses and donkeys aren't of the same species. The thing is that the mule isn't fertile.
Really ? Interesting.Fair point.

[New Tet]

I read one of Dawkins' essay sometime back, and he says humans and chimps are closely related and a hybrid might well be possible. Can someone explain all this in layman's terms? Is it true that a Soviet scientist attempted this in the 20s?

Aside from it being a monstrous crime against nature, it would be an ethical disaster and an unnecessary distraction from the class struggle. Keep it in the supermarket tabloids, where it belongs.

Monkey men jumping from treetops don't frighten me as much as soulless capitalists running around, doing whatever harm delights their putrid senses and getting away with it.

[New Tet]

There have been some experiments on-going. Was a Russian scientist during the tsarist era who tried to inseminate women with ape sperms. He continued with those experiments during the 1920's, until decision-makers saw what was going on and terminated his funding.

The same happened with the Soviet scientist in the 1960's who transplanted the head of a small dog to the body of a large dog. He was apparently forced to quit from the institution and was then given a new job as a janitor. In the USA during the same time, an American professor succeeded in transplanting the brain from an ape to another ape.

More urban myth, I'm afraid.

Microsurgery had not be perfected enough in the 1960's to enable even the best neurosurgeon to connect synaptic nerve tissue. Even now, such a medical accomplishment is barely out of the experimental stage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsurgery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurosurgery

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCoauwI5vkQ

[Lord Testicles]

More urban myth, I'm afraid.

Microsurgery had not be perfected enough in the 1960's to enable even the best neurosurgeon to connect synaptic nerve tissue. Even now, such a medical accomplishment is barely out of the experimental stage.


http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,891156,00.html

[Axle]

I read one of Dawkins' essay sometime back, and he says humans and chimps are closely related and a hybrid might well be possible. Can someone explain all this in layman's terms? Is it true that a Soviet scientist attempted this in the 20s?

I don't see how a human/chimpanzee hybrid would have any real scientific value at all. Mating two species isn't a new concept...mules have been around for centuries.

And that's ignoring the fact that creating a Humanzee is a sick damn idea. Anyone who seriously suggests that we try for one has the ethics of a rock.

[Devrim]

The whole definition of a species is a an organism that can only reproduce with each other.Actually it's two organisms that can reproduce and create a fertile organism.

A species is usually defined by Mayr's definition as "groups of actually or potentially interbreeding natural populations, which are reproductively isolated from other such groups".

This is relevant to this example as Lions and Tigers, which we correctly refer to as different species, have fertile offspring. However, they don't interbreed in the wild, not least because they live in different places, but nor do they meet the criterion of 'potentially interbreeding' not least because a 'Liger' has to be born by cesarian section as it is bigger than both its parents and couldn't get through the birth canal.

Devrim

[Dimentio]

More urban myth, I'm afraid.

Microsurgery had not be perfected enough in the 1960's to enable even the best neurosurgeon to connect synaptic nerve tissue. Even now, such a medical accomplishment is barely out of the experimental stage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsurgery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurosurgery

TCoauwI5vkQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJC5-G7KnKY

[RED DAVE]

More urban myth, I'm afraid.

Microsurgery had not be perfected enough in the 1960's to enable even the best neurosurgeon to connect synaptic nerve tissue. Even now, such a medical accomplishment is barely out of the experimental stage.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,891156,00.htmlYeah. I remember pictures of the two-headed dog in Life Magazine, when I was a kid. It was morbidly fascinating.

RED DAVE