Experimenting may see birth of human-chimp hybrid humanzee, warns scientist

[Krikit 1,164]

They already bred one back in the 60's or 70's. I saw a documentary on it a month or two ago. Unfortunately, I cannot remember enough pertinent information to provide a link at the moment, but I'll try to find something.

[Teacher Mark 53]

They already bred one back in the 60's or 70's. I saw a documentary on it a month or two ago. Unfortunately, I cannot remember enough pertinent information to provide a link at the moment, but I'll try to find something.

I think you are referring to Oliver:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_the_chimp

[Krikit 1,164]

They already bred one back in the 60's or 70's. I saw a documentary on it a month or two ago. Unfortunately, I cannot remember enough pertinent information to provide a link at the moment, but I'll try to find something.

I think you are referring to Oliver:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_the_chimp

Yep, that's it. I obviously wasn't paying too much attention. Here's the story with a pic:

Oliver

He was really creepy in the documentary.

[Teacher Mark 53]

They already bred one back in the 60's or 70's. I saw a documentary on it a month or two ago. Unfortunately, I cannot remember enough pertinent information to provide a link at the moment, but I'll try to find something.

I think you are referring to Oliver:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_the_chimp

Yep, that's it. I obviously wasn't paying too much attention. Here's the story with a pic:

Oliver

He was really creepy in the documentary.

Yeah, I remembered hearing about it years ago. I just whipped out the Google Fu (Human Chimp Hybrid).

[Nasturtium 500]

It's not going to work. The differences are too great. This is what happens when people get all in a crazy froth over things they don't understand. This chimp-human thing circulates every few years.

Oliver is a regular chimpanzee like any other. He is also clearly not built for upright walking on a regular basis-- his foramen magnum is set like any other chimp, and his femur and pelvis joints are clearly not in the correct position there. He also does not have valgus knees. His feet are not arched correctly and his torso (abdomen) is not proportioned right either. All chimps can walk "upright" as can many other animals (including dogs, cats, etc). It doesn't mean they are bipedal.

FWIW, humans ARE apes, they are classed as part of the great apes.

Edited June 3, 2008 by julianna

[mawilson 2,133]

I'm sorry, but the word humanzee just cracks me up!

Me too

Sounds like a lot of people I know

[Teacher Mark 53]

I'm sorry, but the word humanzee just cracks me up!

Me too

Sounds like a lot of people I know

Me too!

[Amby 490]

I'm sorry, but the word humanzee just cracks me up!

That was my exact thought

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

Time for this quote again:

"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."

--Dr. Ian Malcom, Jurassic Park

an excellent example of that.......

link

[one...two...tree 2,762]

"On behalf of all the humanzees who've managed to make a semi-normal life for themselves, I'm deeply troubled by the laughter." ~ George

[Teacher Mark 53]

"On behalf of all the humanzees who've managed to make a semi-normal life for themselves, I'm deeply troubled by the laughter." ~ George

Who's good with Photoshop? The pics in the background should have humanzees in them.

[Krikit 1,164]

Who's good with Photoshop? The pics in the background should have humanzees in them.

[Nagishkaw 510]

It's not going to work. The differences are too great. This is what happens when people get all in a crazy froth over things they don't understand. This chimp-human thing circulates every few years.

Oliver is a regular chimpanzee like any other. He is also clearly not built for upright walking on a regular basis-- his foramen magnum is set like any other chimp, and his femur and pelvis joints are clearly not in the correct position there. He also does not have valgus knees. His feet are not arched correctly and his torso (abdomen) is not proportioned right either. All chimps can walk "upright" as can many other animals (including dogs, cats, etc). It doesn't mean they are bipedal.

FWIW, humans ARE apes, they are classed as part of the great apes.

[Teacher Mark 53]

Here's Oliver. Somebody get on this puppy!

[HAL 9000 96]

It's not going to work. The differences are too great. This is what happens when people get all in a crazy froth over things they don't understand. This chimp-human thing circulates every few years.

Oliver is a regular chimpanzee like any other. He is also clearly not built for upright walking on a regular basis-- his foramen magnum is set like any other chimp, and his femur and pelvis joints are clearly not in the correct position there. He also does not have valgus knees. His feet are not arched correctly and his torso (abdomen) is not proportioned right either. All chimps can walk "upright" as can many other animals (including dogs, cats, etc). It doesn't mean they are bipedal.

FWIW, humans ARE apes, they are classed as part of the great apes.

In that description having a forward set and not a near vertical foramen magnum would mean there is a slight forward declination in the cervical spine onto the brainstem. In chimps. A human-chimp hybrid would need to have a slight reprogram in the transcription factors that control developmental factors controlling body orientation... and believe it or not those transcriptional factors are pretty much identical between both species. Not that I'd like to try but its technically feasable.

The rest you could fit organs into most abdominal conformations following the organ orientations. As long as there is no major distention, the hybrid would probably be viable and live. Again... kind of sick to try such an aberration.