China's Dr Frankensteins are 'on a path to eugenics' as they tinker with the genetic code of animals - and we could be next <\/p>\n
CHINESE scientists who are cloning canines to create mutated superdogs are on the road to eugenics, a top genetics expert has warned. <\/p>\n
The pups, like the one below, are being bred to become stronger and faster and could be used for security or policing. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Sino Gene <\/p>\n
Experts at Sino Gene, a biotech company based in Beijing recently revealed afluffy beagle called Long Long to the world. <\/p>\n
It is the first of his kind because it has been cloned from a genetically modified parent, they claimed. <\/p>\n
The pup arrived in late May in a Sino Gene lab, exactly where her dad was born in December last year. <\/p>\n
But despite its adorable appearance, a British genetics expert said he is very concerned about how the scientists are using genetics for non-medical purposes. <\/p>\n
Scientists genetically modify animals in the UK to test medicines like cancer treatments on mice, rabbits or dogs. <\/p>\n
David King, director of Human Genetics Alert (HGA), warned that this was the first step to creating mutant children. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Asia Wire <\/p>\n
Its true that the more and more animals that are genetically engineered using these techniques bring us closer to the possibility of genetic engineering of humans. <\/p>\n
Dogs as a species, in respect of cloning, are very difficult and even more difficult to clone human beings. <\/p>\n
Theres no medical case for it, the scientists are interested in being the first person in the world to create a genetically-engineered child. <\/p>\n
Theyre interested in science and the technology and their careers. They will continue pushing the regulations for it. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Asia Wire <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Eyevine <\/p>\n
That does set us on the road to eugenics. I am very concerned with what Im seeing, he told the Express.co.uk. <\/p>\n
Lai Liangxue, a researcher at the Guangzhou Institute of biological medicine and health, told China Plusthat the birth of Long Long put China on the map. <\/p>\n
He said: This is a breakthrough, marking China as only the second country in the world to independently master dog-somatic clone technology, after South Korea. <\/p>\n
With this technology, by selecting a certain gene of the dog, we can breed an animal with more muscles, a better sense of smell and stronger running ability, which is good for hunting and police applications. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Liangxue has already created the worlds first gene-edited dogs. beagles named Hercules and Tiangou. <\/p>\n
They double the amount of muscle mass of a typical dog of its breed by deleting a gene called myostatin. <\/p>\n
The dogs have more muscles and are expected to have stronger runningability,which is good for hunting, police (military) applications, Liangxue told MIT review back in 2015. <\/p>\n
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