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Brownback's proposed legislation would ban federal funding of animal-human hybrid cells Ray Dems giving Brownback a hard time for tilting at mermaids The Democrats are having a lot of fun mocking Sen. Sam Brownback's attempts to ban human-animal hybrids - saying he's trying to stop "mermaids" for instance - but the issue is deadly serious to some conservatives. We're talking about so-called Chimeras, genetically engineered creatures that have DNA of more than one species, or have the DNA of one inserted into the egg of another. It's actually happened: scientists around the world have fused human DNA with the ova of rabbits, sheep, cows and mice. The Mayo Clinic even created pigs with human blood. Stanford put human brain cells into mice to study treatments for things like Parkinson's disease and other brain ailments. The idea is to create organs for transplant (into humans), a ready supply of human stem cells or hormones (without the need for a "human" source), or human-like lab specimens for research into disease. The research sounds promising to many scientists, but it makes a lot of people (conservative lawmakers from Kansas) uneasy. They may recall that old Christian Slater movie in which his character had a baboon heart. Regardless, restricting research into chimeras was the subject of legislation in the Sunflower State a few years ago. Anti-abortion groups supported the restrictions, saying the research demeans human dignity. Brownback has federal legislation that would ban the work, and according to Politico he has 20 co-sponsors including one Democrat. He doesn't want to stop the medical use of animal parts - pig valves, for instance, or Slater's baboon heart. But the Dems are having none of it. Chris Harris of Media Matters sent out an email this morning noting the recession and saying Brownback (running for Kansas governor, remember) is more interested in fighting mermaids. "As our nation suffers through the greatest economic decline in a generation and our country's brightest minds are working tirelessly to reverse course, what does Sen. Brownback propose? Banning mermaids. Seriously," Harris writes. "In all seriousness, this is a colossal waste of time. As both an American and a Kansan, I can confidently say that the potential future existence of mermaids and minotaurs are not a pressing concern... for anyone." Submitted by David Klepper on July 14, 2009 - 9:37am. Kansas City Star "There are some things... Submitted by KC Cicero on July 14, 2009 - 4:24pm. ... man was not meant to know" is OK for B Movie dialogue, but is pretty demeaning for public policy debates. I did not know that Opus Dei had an official anti-mermaid position. I would be glad to have a part from a baboon to relieve... Submitted by panda on July 14, 2009 - 7:46pm. my pain ridden body every day. At least I think I would during my weak moments. Our soon-to-be governor Submitted by justme on July 14, 2009 - 8:59pm. And yet, when I contacted Brownback to tell him my support for legislation to provide compensation to victims of asbestos exposure, my email fell on deaf ears. Apparently, if my father who died of mesothelioma had been a mermaid, Brownback would have listened. Rayilyn Brown Director AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn