Monday, October 25, 2010

Genetics Project Part One...

Hello,
I am currently working on a project for my genetics class, I thought you might be interested in some new animals I learned about (well no really new, but new to me, and possibly you too0 a lot of the animals seen here have been around for a long time now. As part of my project I need your response to these animals, what are your views on scientist creating these animals? And any other comments or questions you may have.
Please leave all comments on the website below, for I have to turn in this website for a grade.
Thank you for helping me out on my project,
~Sincerely, K



Here are the animals:
The Mule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. All male mules and most female mules are infertile. The size of a mule and work to which it is put depends largely on the breeding of the mule's dam. Mules can be lightweight, medium weight, or even, when produced from draught horse mares, of moderately heavy weight. A female mule that has estrus cycles and thus, in theory, could carry a fetus is called a "molly" or "Molly mule," though the term is sometimes used to refer to female mules in general. Pregnancy is rare, but can occasionally occur naturally as well as through embryo transfer. One of several terms for a gelded mule is a "John mule."

The Hinny
A hinny is a domestic equine hybrid that is the offspring of a male horse and a female donkey (called a jenny). It is similar to the more common mule, which is the product of a female horse and a male donkey.
 

The Liger
The liger is a hybrid cross between a male lion and a tigress, hence has parents with the same genus but of different species. It is the largest of all known cats and extant felines. Ligers enjoy swimming which is a characteristic of tigers and are very sociable like lions but are more likely to live past birth than Tiglons. However ligers may inherit health behavioral issues due to conflicting inherited traits, but this depends on the genetic traits of the parents. Ligers exist only in captivity because the habitat of the parental species do not overlap in the wild. Notably, Ligers typically grow as large as both parents put together.

The Tiglon
A tiglon or tigon is a hybrid cross between a male tiger and a lioness hence has parents with the same genus but of different species. The tiglon is not currently as common as the converse hybrid, the liger; however, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, tiglons were more common than ligers.

The Zorse
A zorse is the offspring of a male zebra and a female horse. This cross is also called a zebrula, zebrule, zebra mule or golden zebra. Like most other animal hybrids, the zorse is sterile.

The Horbra
The rarer reverse pairing is sometimes called a horbra, hebra, zebrinny or zebret.

The Zonkey
A zonkey is a cross between a zebra and a donkey. "Zonkey" is not the technically correct name for such a cross. The most commonly accepted terms are zebonkey (or zebronkey), zebrinny, zebrula, zebrass, and zedonk (or zeedonk). Another name that is sometimes used is "zebadonk". Donkeys are closely related to zebras and both animals belong to the horse family. Zonkeys are very rare. In South Africa, they occur where zebras and donkeys are found in proximity to each other. Like mules, however, they are generally genetically unable to breed, due to an odd number of chromosomes disrupting meiosis.

The Zony
A zony is the offspring of a zebra stallion and a pony mare. Medium-sized pony mares are preferred to produce riding zonies, but zebras have been crossed with smaller pony breeds such as the Shetland, resulting in so-called "Zetlands".

The Beefalo
Beefalo are a fertile hybrid offspring of domestic cattle, and the American bison,(generally called buffalo in the US). The breed was created to combine the best characteristics of both animals with a view towards beef production. Beefalo are primarily cattle in genetics and appearance, with the breed association defining a full beefalo as one with ⅜ (37.5%) bison genetics, while they call animals with higher percentages of bison genetics "bison hybrids".

The Wholphin
A Wholphin or Wolphin is a rare hybrid, born from a mating of a male killer whale and female Bottlenose Dolphin Although they have been reported to exist in the wild, there are currently only two in captivity, both at Sea Life Park in Hawaii. The wholphin proved fertile when she gave birth at a very young age. The calf died after a few days. However, in 1991, Kekaimalu gave birth once again, to daughter Pohaikealoha. For 2 years she cared for the calf, but did not nurse it (it was hand-reared by trainers). Pohaikealoha died at age 9. On December 23, 2004, Kekaimalu had her third calf, daughter Kawili Kai, sired by a male bottlenose. This calf did nurse and was very playful. Only months after birth, it was the size of a 1-year-old bottlenose dolphin. Both remain in captivity, and are now part of the normal tour at Sea Life Park. Kekaimalu is featured in the main dolphin show at Sea Life Park.
Wholphin

The Zubron
Zubron is a hybrid of domestic cattle and wisent. The wisent is the European bison hence the zubron is analogous to the American Beefalo. The name zubron was officially chosen from hundreds of proposals sent to the Polish weekly magazine during a contest organised in 1969.

The Dzo (male) & Dzomo (female)
A dzo is a hybrid of yak and domestic cattle. The word dzo technically refers to a male hybrid, while a female is known as a dzomo or zhom. Alternative Romanizations of the Tibetan names include zho and zo. In Mongolian it is called khainag. There is also the English language portmanteau term of yakow; a combination of the words yak and cow, though this is rarely used. Dzomo are fertile, while dzo are sterile. As they are a product of the hybrid genetic phenomenon of heterosis (hybrid vigor), they are larger and stronger than cattle or yak. In Mongolia and Tibet, khainags are thought to be more productive than cattle or yaks in terms of both milk and meat production. Dzomo can be back crossed. As a result, many supposedly pure yak or pure cattle probably carry a dash of each other's genetic material. In Mongolia and Tibet, the result of a khainag crossed with either a domestic bull or yak bull is called ortoom (three-quarter-bred) and an ortoom crossed with a domestic bull or yak bull results in a usan güzee (one-eighth-bred).
(Dzo)
(Dzomo)

The Yakow

The Geep
A sheep–goat chimera (sometimes called a geep in popular media) is a chimera produced by combining the embryos of a goat and a sheep; the resulting animal has cells of both sheep and goat origin. A sheep-goat chimera should not be confused with a sheep-goat hybrid, which can result when a goat mates with a sheep.

The Cama
A cama is a hybrid between a male Dromedary camel and a female llama, produced via artificial insemination at the Camel Reproduction Centre in Dubai. The first cama was born on January 14, 1998. The aim was to create an animal with the size and strength of the camel, but the more cooperative temperament and the higher wool production of the llama. An adult camel weighs six times as much as a llama. Thus, artificial insemination is the only way to produce a live and thriving cama. Only the artificial insemination of a female llama with sperm from a male dromedary camel has been successful in producing a cama. Other combinations, such as artificial insemination of a female camel with male llama sperm, have not produced viable offspring. The cama is not sterile because, unlike other well known hybrids, the camel and the llama have the same number of chromosomes. This is not generally true for other successful livestock hybrids, such as the mule. For example, the horse has 64 chromosomes and the donkey has 62, so when they breed it produces an animal with 63 chromosomes, namely, the mule. The first cama showed signs of becoming sexually mature at four years of age, when it started to show signs of wanting to breed with the female guanaco and a female llama. At this stage, the first cama was a disappointment behaviorally, displaying an extremely poor temperament. A more recent story suggests that his behavior is generally more gentle as hoped for. The second cama, a female named Kamilah, was successfully born in 2002. Four camas have since (April 2008) been produced using artificial insemination.

The Huarizo
A huarizo is a cross between a male llama and a female alpaca. It is generally bred for its exceptional fleece. Huarizo are generally sterile, but recent genetic research conducted at the University of Minnesota Rochester suggests that it may be possible to preserve fertility with minimal genetic modification. Most huarizos in the United States are now fertile. The original large, short fleece llama comprises only about 10% of the population.

The Coydog
A coydog is the hybrid offspring of a male coyote and a female dog. Together they are genetically capable of producing fertile young. The dogote, a similar hybrid, is the result of breeding a male domestic dog with a female coyote. Where the cross-breeding of animals is concerned, the father's species gives the first part of the offspring's name.

The Grolar bear
A grizzly–polar bear hybrid (also Pizzly bear, Prizzly bear or Grolar bear) is a rare ursid hybrid that has occurred both in captivity and in the wild. In 2006, the occurrence of this hybrid in nature was confirmed by testing the DNA for a strange-looking bear that had been shot near Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories on Banks Island in the Canadian Arctic.Ursid hybrids, a term that designates any hybrid of two species within the family Ursidae, include several other types of polar bear hybrids. Polar bear hybrids with Grizzly bears in the wild have been reported and shot in the past as well, but DNA techniques were not available to verify the bears' ancestry.

The Leopon
A leopon is a hybrid resulting from the crossing of a male leopard with a lioness. The head of the animal is similar to that of a lion while the rest of the body carries similarities to leopards. These hybrids are produced in captivity and are unlikely to occur in the wild.The first documented leopon was bred at Kolhapur, India in 1910. Its skin was sent to R. I. Pocock by W. S. Millard, the Secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society. It was a cross between a large leopard and a lioness. Two cubs were born, one of which died aged 2.5 months and the other was still living when Pocock described it in 1912. Pocock wrote that it was spotted like a leopard, but that the spots on its sides were smaller and closer set than those of an Indian leopard and were brown and indistinct like the fading spots of a juvenile lion. The spots on the head, spine, belly and legs were black and distinct. The tail was spotted on the topside and striped underneath and had a blackish tip with longer hairs. The underside was dirty white, the ears were fawn and had a broad black bar but did not have the white spot found in leopards. Pocock wrote that the closest he had previously seen to this type of hybrid was the lijagulep (Congolese Spotted Lion) bred in Chicago.



And the Yakalo
A Yakalo is a hybrid of a yak and an American bison produced by selective breeding. Yakalos are rare except in central Alberta, Canada, where they are sometimes called "yak-bison" or "Alternative Cattle". Some Alberta farmers keep them as beef or dairy animals, since they are easier to overwinter in the snowy climate than other cattle are.



These are just to name a few...
Please respond back and let me know your opinions, comments and questions. It would be much appreciated for my project.
Please leave all comments/questions/opinions on the website.
Thanks again
~K
P.S. If you are interested in anymore information on these animals try googling or yahooing them.

84 comments:

  1. i think that it is interesting, because they can do it, and get different spieces out of it, but i also don't like it because they are playing god, and these animals were never intended to be here, because if they were, then god would have made them to begin with. it is a very controversial topic.

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  2. Wether or not humans have found a way or can create life in general. I believe that God should be the only one with the privilage of creating life until he claims otherwise. trying to play God by attempting his powers of creation in my eyes is not going to make him happy.

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  3. A while back I learned about some of these hybrid animals. What is interesting is that some of these hybrids can occur naturally in the wild; however, it is extremely rare. I'm not sure if the practice of mating these different species is ethical. As long as the offspring are healthy, I'm fine with the idea (will they make it to maturity, can they reproduce, etc). Cloning on the other hand I am against.

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  4. Well, they are really not "playing god". They are simply experimenting with the life on this planet, not creating new life. I think its a great accomplishment that humans are able to do this, and yes, it is very controversial.

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  5. Wow, I did not know that scientist did things like this. I never knew there was a difference in mules either. I always thought that the mule was an accident and people just accepted it. It is hard to say whether or not people are playing God because we do this all the time with dogs. It is good that scientist are learning how to do things like this. However, I do believe that if God wanted to create animals like these He would have already done so. Scientists should focus on more important things instead of playing with animals.

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  6. To be defined as a species, an animal must have the ability to produce fertile offspring. Few, if any, of the hybrid animals shown have that ability. It is my personal opinion that, because these interbreeds can and do occur naturally that there is nothing controversial or megalomaniacal about it.

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  7. I think that it is amazing how advanced science has become, but the infertile animals are pointless. They can't produce anymore so it's just a waste of time to create them.
    This also is wrong because they are playing God. New species are not for humans to create but for God to make.

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  8. I think this was very interesting and never realy thought about how animals look when mixed with other animals of different breed.

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  9. I don't know if I agree with scientist playing God. If these animals choose to mate then I think it is fine. I do not understand what the scientist want to accomplish by mating these animals. Are they creating a new set of issues by mixing these species?

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  10. I don't think there is anything wrong with scientists attempting to create new species of animals, as long as they stick with animals and don't try to create human beings.Though some of these animals looked really weird the majority of them were beautiful. I think that kind of stuff is really interesting, and you picked a good topic for your project.

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  11. WOW, very interesting. However, I am not a fan of scientist messing with nature. If you look into the killer bee story you can also find out that these too are the work of scientist and they have killed many people. The bees are learning to adapt to cooler weather thus will be common in all areas probably during your lifetime. You can also look up information on the snake head fish, also a gift of science it is killing off wildlife and even people. So I am not a fan we have enough natural things in life that can harm people we do not need to make mixed breeds that are even angrier.

    Very interesting topic tho.

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  12. Very cool! If scientists are "playing God" then why couldn't they have made me with a muscle toned body? Just kidding! I really have no problem with scientists experimenting with these animals as long as no harm is caused to that animal or its natural environment.

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  13. i have some questions
    where do scientist get the money for this "experiment" but cant find a cure to cancer
    who approved of this? its against nature isnt it?
    will the children of these animals come out like this or will the same animals have to breed to keep the gene going?

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  14. I think that this is just amazing! It amazes me what science can do and produce. With everything there is a fine line. I don't believe it is completely wrong, because there will be birth defects, or miscarriages of the inbreed fetuses, if it were wrong. All things have just about the same DNA, and its that only 1% that makes us (all species) different. Most of the new species her in the blog are quite beautiful! Playing God? Maybe. But didn't God give us the knowledge to explore and create things?

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  15. Very interesting. Never would have thought to research this. I agree with another comment that scientists have money available for this but cant find a cure for cancer...well i guess any research is positive! Nice work. Some of these crosses are gorgeous!

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  16. I must admit although I think some of these animals are pretty, why would scientists do such a thing? I mean they should know when combining 2 different animals such as a donkey and a horse, they will not reproduce, so why continue? And some of these animals have (ahem) smaller areas for the male to intrude so wouldn't it be considered animal cruelty because of the pain they go through?

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  17. I think scientists "playing God" is very wrong. Don't get me wrong these animals are beautiful. But by comining 2 totally different species is wrong. They can't reproduce, so what is the point? And another question are there any physical/mental complications by combining 2 different animals?

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  18. Alot of these animals are beautiful but I don't think it's right for scientists to "play God". Can't this end up hurting humans and the species of the two? Like wouldn't something like the liger or the tiglon be doubly aggressive? and wouldn't the female go through even more pain if she's smaller than the males average female species? I think scientists should spend less time messing around with nature and spend more time trying to find cures for things that can help save and improve mankind!

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  19. If it happened it nature on its own I would see it as fine. However, as these animals have been forced together, I do not believe it is right. The same goes for Labradoodles and peek-a-poos...animals are not there to be strictly breeded for entertainment and profit. How much longer will it take before scientists start cross-breeding humans with other species, and who's to say they haven't done it already?

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  20. I feel that science and "GOD" are seperate and to say that a scientist is playing God is not even a legitimate argument. As one person commented if God had wanted these different species he would have created them. . . well how can you justify anything that is created by humans?? Plastics are man made but I am sure that you are not against them. . . perhaps you would argue that plastics are not alive.....so how would you feel about an organ donor saving the life of someone that was going to die otherwise. . . is that playing God in a sense? Or an interracial relationship because in the end it is an entirely new "race" much as breeding two types of felines into a new form. Medicines are also man made but they can save lifes and so if you are using medicine in any case you are a hypocrite for the statement that scientists are wrong to "play GOD". I just think that someone must use another reason besides that to prove this is inhumane or otherwise. My only concern would be a possibility of creating gene mutations that might become something that would cause the animals to suffer.

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  21. Well... Very interesting. ALthough alot of people think its wrong.. I believe that experimentation like this is ok... at least there not hurting the animals. What if the new dna in these animals DID some how advance human medicine?

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  22. Most of these hybrid/cross-breed animals have many health problems and short life-spans (as compared to the average of either parent's species.) I take that as an indicator that, in general, purposefully mating many animals in such a manner is a bad idea. Just because something can be done doesn't mean it should be.

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  23. If the cross-breeding of species can be proven to improve the way of life for homo sapiens,then I see no issue with doing what nature does during times of duress. What we must make sure is that the new species do not encroach upon the native and "native" species. Such encroachment would decimate the usual species while leaving us with cross-breeds not adapted to the current environment. For example, the beefalo can yield heartier protein than its predecessors and insure the genetic survival of the endangered bison. The leopon is nothing more than children mixing up their Legos. Sometimes putting the medievel knights in the space fort do not complete the storyline of the Legos playset. And, the leopon will be introduced as an invasive species, endangering its predecessors.

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  24. James, paralegal studentOctober 26, 2010 at 4:26 AM

    My reading of the bible and creation states that things multiply according to their KIND. These animals are of the same genus and are able to reproduce, they just do so within their own species. (A cat cannot breed with a dog)I would agree that there would be more genetic variation and defects, and as someone commented, a shorter life span and some complications. We do the same with domestic dogs and cats, plants and trees, and science is 'selecting' human sperm and eggs to implant in women for artificial insemination. Science cannot create life, it can only take the matter God has created and manipulate it. The problem science has is its misunderstanding of the law of entropy, which the bible calls original sin. (that is another project) Great research topic, it has raised some good comments.

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  25. This is neat never knew such thing were possible, but I see now that all things are possible through Jesus hiself. Neat project I would have never known two can become one..lol

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  26. I think I have a cat that is a cross between a rabbit and a cat, i can send you a picture if your interested.

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  27. I never knew some of these animals were here. I think its interesting that humans can make these animals, but I think it is wrong for us to act like God and make them. They have some really interesting names, and some of them are cute, but I still think its wrong. Good luck on your project. :)

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  28. Some of these animals do show up naturally once in awhile. As far as human interference though, I don't think its right. That would be like forcing an Asian guy to "mate" with an Iraqi lady so you could have a really smart terrorist.

    But on another note, I really want a pet zonkey!

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  29. I'm not agree,sorry but They are simply experimenting with the life on this planet, not creating new life.

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  30. I think it was very interesting but yet a little on the freak side of the wildlife.

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  31. In all the examples what would be the purpose for such crossing of the animals shown? If it is not to strengthen or better facilitate the species involved I do not see the need nor purpose for cross breading across such lines. Is it not true that such cross breading tends to increase defects in the cells as well as gene structure? Nature does well left alone without man playing Dr. Animalstine. hlcarterjr

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  32. I think they shouldn't play God. I think some of those animals shouldn't go together but then some are so beautiful in those pictures. Some of the animals are, to me, okay to put together and the name doesn't sound that bad. Some of them are a stretch and should not have been experimented. No matter what the scientists do, I think there will be new species anyway and maybe they are preparing for if that does happen.

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  33. Interesting project... Some of these animals I've heard of, but many I've not. Many of them I'm sure were bred for a specific purpose, like the camel cross and the yak cross were most likely bred as pack animals like the mule: Cross bred to gain the strong characteristics of both parents, while attempting to simultaneously remove any weaknesses the two may have. The cow/bison cross I'm guessing was done for a domestic food source? The alpaca cross, probably for a better coat to make a new fabric from? Some of the others I'm just not seeing a purpose for, other than just to see what would come of it. I'm curious, were they are naturally bred, or were some genetically engineered? The mule is a sterile animal, unable to reproduce, is this effect also evident in any of the other crosses?

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  34. Nice. I like this. I didn't realize that all of this could even be done. It was very interesting.

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  35. Okay first of all I did not even know that half, no, most of these animals even existed. I say NO NO NO to the creation of all these animals. It just seems like some kind of mixed up, weird scientific experiment. A couple of question 1. Who gave anyone the right to do this? 2. Who oversees the process? 3.What would be the purpose of creating these animals? 4. What good can comes from this exploration? I could think of quite a few better ways to spend money and better research to be involved with. Finally they just look so weird to me, I guess because it's not what I am used to seeing. Its just not what nature intended as well as them being hard to get used to.

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  36. I was not familiar with some of these species either. In my opinion, we need to be careful "playing God" for there is only one true God! I know the importance of science to our world b/c it can help find cures for diseases and fixes to problems; however, I can't help but wonder if we would stop crossbreeding, some of these problems would of not existed in the first place?? I can only wander why God made us all different, if he wanted us to be somewhat the same he would have made us all the same color and the same sex, but he did not

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  37. I think it is wonderful> man can create anything he sees the need for. All I feel we are doing is just speeding up Evolution. I have No problem with it at all.

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  38. Personally, man has created many "mixes" since domestication of animals. Who can say the mule is "wrong." But i will never understand the playing with animals- liger, zony, wholphin it seems almost unholy!

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  39. I think that it is horrible. Why don't the scientists just let the animals be in their natural state. What is the purpose of it. To me it is sick. I love animals just the way they are the way God created them. Just out of curiosity what is your opinion on it?

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  40. I think that we have become used to some of them, such as the mule and coydog, however, some are new to me. My question is, are all of these animals sterile, because I once heard that the mule is? What happens if they breed them again, if they can still have offspring? I don't like scientists messing with mother nature too much, but where do they draw the line?

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  41. I am very interested in what it is that humans will think of next...(dolosapien Male dolphin, female human, homoeetah, Male human, female cheetah), pretty gross huh? Being for real I really don't like the idea of all these hybrids being made, but if it helps find cures for diseases like cancer, aids, and other diseases we could break through would be excellent work. Just to alter mother nature I will not support. Hope you get a good grade.

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  42. genetic engineering can be used to make human beings happier and healthier.

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  43. Well I dont think cross breeding should be aloud. You should let the animals mate with there own kind. That's just like humans breeding with animals it is not right. But I think your project is great.

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  44. humans will need to use genetic engineering to keep up with increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence.

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  45. scientists are using genetic engineering on pigs in the hope of finding treatments for human diseases, and possibly developing organs that could be transplanted into humans.

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  46. enhanced vision. immunity from disease. crops that are pest-resistant. these are but a few of the wonders genetic engineering promises to bestow upon humanity.

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  47. In many cases genetic engineering violates human rights and challenges society's most basic understanding of morality and ethics.

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  48. Should a child be created specifically to save another person's life, or should a child be welcomed and loved unconditionally regardless of his or her instrumental value in helping someone else?

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  49. creating life primarily to serve someone else... should always be condemned.

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  50. The chimera and other genetically engineered creatures have the potential to produce a creature so human that questions reguarding its moral and legal status wond throw 4,000 years of ethics into utter chaos.

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  51. it is hard to see why improving on nature could be cause for concern.

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  52. what horrors do such designer babies face? longer, healthier, smarter, and perhaps even happier lives? it is hard to see any ethical problem with that.

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  53. The simple truth is that we're already cyborgs, more or less. our mouths are filled with silver. our nearsighted corneas are repaired with surgical lasers. Almost 40 percent of americans now have prosthetic limbs.

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  54. By responsible use of science, technology, and other rational means we shall eventually manage to become post-human, beings with vastly greater capacities than present human beings have.

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  55. I think that it is very interesting to know that it can be done but at the same time I completely object to it. I do not think that scientists should be trying to play God, if a zebra and a horse were going to breed they would do it in nature out of necessity. I do not think that any of these "new" breeds have any benefit to society and I think that someone should stand up and put a stop to it.

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  56. I think all animals are beautiful and if God didnt create them they werent meant to be. I think some are odd looking but could the male and female half breeds mate together and create others? I know if you take two donkey you dont get another donkey. If this is the same for these animals how could they multiply and not die out? the world works together. I would only reall agree fully with it if the species was dying out and there was nothing to breed it with to create more.
    Another question is... where would the polar/grissly bear live? the artic or the mountains?
    This poses to many problems I think and I believe they should only create new animals if the species are going extinct. In this case scientists should only mate the same species together.

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  57. I found your blog very interesting. The physical changes in these animals are differently different. The mule is a common one to me but unfortunately it can not reproduce. It would be interesting to know if the other mixes have the same results. Also are these animals accepted by the rest of the herds or are they outcasts? Are they accepted by their mothers? Why were these genetic changes made? What are their personalities like do the wild animals become more tame or do they become more vicious? (Like the killer bees)

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  58. Katie, I think this page is very neat, however, I don't know what your criteria is for this project. I kind of feel like if you add some information on each of these animals (ie, are they sterile? What about the temperament? Are they able to be domesticated?) that would help.

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  59. Katie, that is so interesting! I didn't even know about that. I wish I could see all the animals in person! I don't think there is anything wrong with scientist doing this. They are not hurting the animals and it happens in nature all the time.

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  60. This is really interesting. I believe you will get a good grade on this. I never realized that there were so many different "breeds" of animals. It is amazing how far the science of genetics has come. Good luck with the rest of your project!

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  61. This is very interesting, I had no idea there were such "critters". The one thing that does concern me is if these aniimals exist, how long before someone gets the hairbrained idea to mess with mankind. I believe you should get a great grade on this presentation. Good Luck. I enjoyed reading and looking at the unusal pictures.

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  62. Although many may have different opinions on this topic whether it is playing God or if it is just an amazing discovery I believe both. No mankind should not play God, but this kinda thing happens in nature all the time. When God created heaven and earth he did not make electricity, mankind created electricity (which everyone uses everyday) so was Benjamin Franklin playing God when he proposed the notion of positive and negative charge, conserving a balance except when a deficit is brought about by some means. Benjamin Franklin took a natural resource, lightning, (created by God) and out of it conducted experiments with a kite and invented electricity. God gave him the knowledge to come up with the idea all he did was act on it. God has given the scientist responsible for creating these animals the knowledge to come up with the idea of taking two different animals, mating them, and creating a whole new animal out of it. The only thing these scientists are guilty of is acting on that knowledge. I believe this topic was very intersting and you should get a good grade.

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  63. wow this is crazy, I was aware of the mule and the liger becaus I have seen these two animals before, but I was completely oblivious to these other animals. I agree with the comment above mine, and this was a very intersting project, I really hope you get a good grade. My only concerns would be, What if you have a male liger and a female liger could they mate to keed the species going? Would these animals be more vicious or more calm? Could something eventually go wrong that was cause these animals to suffer? Out in the wild are they accepted in with "the pack"? Just some things to think about.

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  64. I really didn't know that this was being done by scientist. I think that they should need nature along if it was ment for these animals to joined together to make this type of animal then nature would have taken that coures. How does those new creatures enteract with there regular animals and are they in the wilderness with all the others animals?

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  65. Grace said....
    I find this disturbing. Yes scientist have evolved on numerous of things. But to create these mixed animals opens a door to be able to procreate humans. That's the whole purpose on why their doing this. I find it hard to believe that its for a cure. God did create man and animal, but separately. He did not intend for them to be mixed. Would you have sex with an animal, so that you have an offspring of a man-horse, some people are that sick in this world. So I find that scientist fall under the same category. What a great choice on this project? I'm twisted enough to be able to accomplish this topic,with graphic detail. Good Luck

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  66. I have to agree with Jean on this one. As pretty as these animals are playing with nature is not good. If God wanted these animals on Earth he would have put them here like they are now. I have to believe with creating these animals there are health problems and temperment issues in them. They are created from two different species. Great project by the way!

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  67. I'm not sure what your point is on this project, but although some of the animals look quite cute it is sad. Why should you change an animal and make him something different. What is wrong with a purebred. When you start crossbreeding there are all sorts of problems. How do you classify a mixed bred animal? His true kin want accept him and the crossed animal won't accept him either. Hope my input can help in some way. Good Luck on your grade!

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  68. I found your presentation to be very informative and interesting. It is interesting to see how genetics can be transferred and what the result can be. Thanks for sharing. You did a great job.

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  69. I do not think that it is right for man to play God. Unfortunately, this also happens in life without the help of man. A deer was shot on our property about a week ago. This deer had tusk coming out of it's mouth and protruding teeth. It seems that a female deer mated with a male wild hog. I guess you would call it "Deeog" maybe. Things like this happen in nature, but when man starts crossing breeds just to see if it genetically comes out right then we as humans have gone too far

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  70. i really liked your genetics project...there where lots of animals i didn't even know existed ;)

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  71. Controversial, you may say or think. It all depends on which side of the aisle you stand. The world has moved and shifted a great deal. One sure factor that is responsible for these moves is science. Believe it or condemn it, one thing you really cannot do is to ignore it. God, we are told created this world. The book that carries this story is greatly flawed. Science is on the verge of doing something accepted by some and rejected by many. We can recreate this world as many times as possible but we can never make originals all the creations or more fairly the existentialities that were here before we all came. The venture into what our world is made of has improved us and our world. We also have created our woes in the process of this discovery. One thing is sure; until we figure out how not to die, we will still envision a higher power or influence over man. So whether man is co-bonded with snake or rat with a mule does not matter so much now. We cannot stop it. It is a little too late. We have our one share of wisdom from wherever. We are on course to who knows where: little regret that most will never see where all this slippery slope leads. For God believers, this will be playing God. For the scientist-it is a break-through

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  72. Sounds like an interesting project. In my opinion, humans shouldn't try to cross animals that don't spontaneously mate or mix in nature. Hybrids that occur only when the animals are domesticated or sedated or their normal natural environment is so disrupted they lose their instincts and social mores seem cruel and unnecessary. I've read cases of the animals showing signs of being confused or depressed by their conflicting traits inherited from such different parents and of the mothers abadoning or harming their hybrid offspring, which can happen in the wild when a defective baby is born. When nature selects them to discontinue by making hybrids infertile I think it's a good sign that man has crossed a line. And with many of the crosses mentioned below, especially the big cats, it seems like the only reason is that someone wants to create an animal rare enough to make some money, never a good reason for messing with nature. Hope that helps. Good luck with your project.

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  73. I would not like to see gene spicing to create new creatures. If we are mixing within families( can happen in nature) than I am OK. The mule has been a great benefit to humans over the years.

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  74. Wow who knew all of those animals could "mix". This a very good presentation.

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  75. What a wonderful job in creating a site that allows others, who would never have on their own, to learn about modern science and examples of what scientists today are working on.

    Lili

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  76. I have been riding horses since I was six and know quite a bit about the horse/donkey hybrids. Your information on that bit was very good. I also learned that there is more than one horse/zebra hybrid. I fount your presentation quite informative and I really enjoyed it. Great Job
    --Lauren

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  77. First of all, wonderful site! Thank you very much for sharing this, I found it very informative!

    As far as my opinion on the hand scientists have had in 'mixing' some of these creatures that would not have occured naturally, I am in disagreement with it. As many things that are very important in the care and well-being of humanity as well as animals, some scientific advancement is required. However, playing 'God' just because it can be done (in this case, as well as with cloning)I feel is only detremental to science as well as all living things in the long run.

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  78. This was a very interesting article. When I was at mule days a couple of years ago I saw a Zorse, but it was all zebra print; the most beautiful hybrid I've ever seen in my life.

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  79. Hey Kati! This is a very interesting and informative site! It is interesting what can be created with genetics. We have to be careful not to cross ethical line when it comes to this very powerful ability mankind has. Thank-you for sharing this with me!

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  80. All of the experimentation are very interesting. To me I believe that science is a great part of our world and we do recieve great rewards and benefits from the rusults of science experiments in the form of cures and much more but science can be very dangerous and also disasterous. Yes we do see the outcome of the experiment that scientist so call has been successful but what about the mutated or aborted exp. Then all of this cross reproducing on the animals that we eat,what kind of effects that it will have on us as humans. I feel that we should let GOD do his work and we should focus on ours. Scientist have already tried cloning animals and I truly believe they have even tried cloning humans as well. I do think that science exp.are well needed to explore new things but when scienctist try to pro-create I feel that they are trying to play God. I hope that you get an A. Best of Luck.

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  81. These hybrids are pretty awesome. I really have no problems with the breeding since some happen in the wild at times. It really doesn't hurt the animals. It's not a big deal to me.
    Some of the animals, like the zorse, are cute. I love the Yakow, it's a beautiful animal.
    The Beefalo is great. I'd love to grill some beefalo meat sometime. :)

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  82. i thought that this was very educational, I sometimes wonder why we do this and how it affects the animals that are created. 'who do they relate to in their world and why do we need to do this. If we are trying to save some species that is good but could there be a negative outcome from these pairing?

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  83. It was very interesting seeing the different types of animals that have been produced. I haven't heard of most the kind that I saw. Your project looks very good and it's very informative.

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  84. The picture under "Yakalo" is of a non-hybrid, wild animal from China called a Takin. Google sichuan and/or golden takin.

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