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From: davidp@dbrmelb.dbrhi.oz (David Paterson)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: Human/Chimp Hybrids?
Message-ID: <875@dbrmelb.dbrhi.oz>
Date: 2 Oct 90 00:05:18 GMT
Organization: CSIRO, Div. Building Constr. and Eng'ing, Melb., Australia
Lines: 33


I very much doubt if a direct hybrid is possible. Having seen humans who
have just a bit of genetic material out of place it seems clear that
there is much too great a genetic difference between humans and chimps.
Human male and female genotypes are able to be so different only
because one of the the two 'X' chromosomes is deactivated in women and
the male 'Y' chromosome is remarkably devoid of active genes.

BUT:

It is technically possible to create a creature that is physiologically
indistinguishable from a chimp and genetically compatible with a human.
This would be done by moving large chunks of genetic material around on
the chimp chromosomes and changing the number of chromosomes. (Basically
by the process of matching one chimp gene to one human gene).

BUT:

Such a creature would never be created for ethical reasons.

BUT:

I would like to see the creation of a creature that is as close as possible
to the common ancestor of chimps and humans. Although we may never be
able to determine the exact genetic makeup of such a greature it should be
possible to ensure that 99.9% of the genes are correct.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Paterson,
CSIRO Division of Building, Construction and Engineering,
PO Box 56, Highett, Victoria, 3190, AUSTRALIA
AARNet/Internet:       davidp@mel.dbce.csiro.au
ACSNet:      davidp%dbrmelb.dbrhi@munnari.oz.au