Thursday, January 31, 2008

Lembke, Ruestman lead battle against human/animal hybrids


No one ever tells me about these things.
Rep. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis, introduced a bill today that would make it a crime to create "mixed human/animal individuals." Recognizing an immediate problem that threatens life the way we know it, naturally Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, is one of HB 1953's 11 co-sponsors.
The bill includes the following:

Section A. Chapter 565, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 565.325, to read as follows:

565.325. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:

(1) "Human chimera", any of the following:

(a) A human embryo into which a nonhuman cell or cells, or the component parts thereof, have been introduced that render its membership in the species homo sapiens uncertain through germline or other changes;

(b) A hybrid human/animal embryo produced by fertilizing a human egg with a nonhuman sperm;

(c) A hybrid human/animal embryo produced by fertilizing a nonhuman egg with human sperm;

(d) An embryo produced by introducing a nonhuman cell nucleus into a human egg;

(e) An embryo produced by introducing a human nucleus into a nonhuman egg;

(f) An embryo containing haploid sets of chromosomes from both a human and a nonhuman life form;

(g) A nonhuman life form engineered such that human gametes develop within the body of a nonhuman life form; or

(h) A nonhuman life form engineered such that it contains a human brain or a brain derived wholly or predominantly from human neural tissues;

(2) "Human embryo", an organism of the species homo sapiens during the early stages of development, from one cell forward.

2. No person shall knowingly perform any of the following acts:

(1) Create or attempt to create a human chimera;

(2) Transfer or attempt to transfer a human embryo into a nonhuman womb;

(3) Transfer or attempt to transfer a nonhuman embryo into a human womb; or

(4) Transport or receive for any purpose a human chimera.

3. Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a class D felony. Any person who violates the provisions of this section and derives pecuniary gain from such violation shall be subject to a civil fine of the greater of one million dollars or an amount equal to three times the amount of the gross gain resulting from such violation.

***

Is this really the kind of pressing issue that our House of Representatives needs to be addressing?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It was only a matter of time, I guess. A recent movie recently featured a character called "Spider Pig." If they're blending spiders and pigs, Lord knows what else they're doing! Stop the madness!
Yeesh!