Ethical Issues and Norms of Human-animal Chimerism Technology / 中国医学伦理学

ABSTRACT

Since the 21st century, with the rapid development of biomedicine, research and discussion on human-animal chimerism technology have attracted wide attention. The general research of human-animal chimeras is to introduce human stem cells into animal embryos that remove organ genes, aiming to cultivate human organs in human-animal chimeras to solve the shortage of human organ donors and provide experimental materials for the development of related scientific research. However, due to its technology involves cross-species genetic modification, which destroys the species boundary and the naturalness of ecological niche, it has caused various ethical issues such as threatening species safety and harming human dignity. The development of human-animal chimerism technology is the choice of the times for technological progress, with its inevitability and rationality. It should not be absolutely prohibited, but must abide by the ethical principles such as safety, benefit, respect, and justice, and operate harmoniously under strict and orderly ethical norms.