title: Ethical aspects of creating human-nonhuman chimeras capable of human gamete production and human pregnancy.
abstract: In this paper I explore some of the moral issues that could emerge from the creation of human-nonhuman chimeras (HNH-chimeras) capable of human gamete production and human pregnancy. First I explore whether there is a cogent argument against the creation of HNH-chimeras that could produce human gametes. I conclude that so far there is none, and that in fact there is at least one good moral reason for producing such types of creatures. Afterwards I explore some of the moral problems that could emerge from the fact that a HNH-chimera could become pregnant with a human conceptus. I focus on two sets of problems: problems that would arise by virtue of the fact that a human is gestated by a nonhuman creature, and problems that would emerge from the fact that such pregnancies could affect the health of the HNH-chimera.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Science Ethics and Innovation, The University of Manchester, Room 3.383, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. Cesar.palaciosgonzalez@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palacios-González
mesh_terms: D000025:Abortion, Eugenic / Q000941:ethics; D000818:Animals; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000941:ethics*; D002678:Chimera / Q000235:genetics*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D032984:Ethics, Research; D005260:Female; D005718:Gametogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009014:Morals; D018587:Oocyte Donation / Q000941:ethics; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000941:ethics* / Q000235:genetics*; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000941:ethics; D057905:Stem Cell Research / Q000941:ethics*; D015974:Wrongful Life / Q000941:ethics
keywords: Biotechnology; Chimeras; Human gametes; Human–nonhuman chimeras; Part human; Xenopregnancy