Human-Nonhuman Chimeras: A Regulatory Proposal on the Blurring of Species Lines

Boston College Law Review Volume 45 Issue 3 Number 3 Article 3 5-1-2004 Human-Nonhuman Chimeras: A Regulatory Proposal on the Blurring of Species Lines Nicole E. Kopinski Follow this and additional works at: http://lawdigitalcommons.bc.edu/bclr Part of the Science and Technology Law Commons Recommended Citation Nicole E. Kopinski, Human-Nonhuman Chimeras: A Regulatory Proposal on the Blurring of Species Lines, 45 B.C.L. Rev. 619 (2004), http://lawdigitalcommons.bc.edu/bclr/vol45/iss3/3 This Notes is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Journals at Digital Commons @ Boston College Law School. It has been accepted for inclusion in Boston College Law Review by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ Boston College Law School. For more information, please contact . HUMAN-NONHUMAN CHIMERAS: A REGULATORY PROPOSAL ON THE BLURRING OF SPECIES LINES Abstract: The chimera of modern biotechnology is defined broadly as a single organism composed of a mixture of materials from two or more organisms possessing distinct genetic backgrounds. Unlike the United States, which does not regulate chimeras directly, Canada has responded to the unregulated pursuit of chimera technology by banning certain chimeras as part of comprehensive legislation designed to regulate human reproductive technologies. In 2001, the Canadian Parliament passed the Assisted Human Reproduction Act despite criticism urging greater legislative justification for the Act's provisions and modification to its statutory definitions, Because current regulatory mechanisms in the United States, including patent law and administrative oversight, fail to regulate chimera technology, the United States should enact new legislation, using Canada's legislation as a model, to prohibit embryonic chimeras and to regulate other human-nonhuman combinations. Unregulated biotechnology threat, ens to disrupt legal and social institutions; therefore, the United States must make a balanced effort now to protect the public interest. INTRODUCTION The Chimera of ancient Greek mythology was a fire-breathing beast with a lion's head, goat's body, and dragon's tail that ravaged the kingdom of Lycia until the hero, Bellerophon, destroyed if. 1 The chimera of modern biotechnology is defined broadly as a single organism composed of a mixture of materials from two or more organisms possessing distinct genetic backgrounds. 2 The mythological origin of the term reflects not only the multispecies composition of chimeras, but also their potential, as products of unbridled technological innovation, to generate disruption and confusion in society. 3 THOMAS BUIFINCII, Tim Act: or FABLE (1855), reprinted in Buismcit's NIrrnotowe 3, 117-18 (Random House 1993). 2 Henry T. Greely, Defining Chimeras ... and Chimeric Concerns, 3 Am. J. Ilimmucs, Stmuner 2003, at 17, 17-19 (recommending an exhaustive taxonomy to aid the analysis of ethical concerns presented by various forms of chimeras). 3 See Jason Scott Robert & Francoise Baylis. Crossing Species Boundaries, 3 An. J. Iliorrutcs, Summer 2003, at 1, 9 (discussing ethical aspects of creating chimeras followed by responses from over two dozen commentators). But see Robert Streiffer, In Defense of the 619 620 Boston College Law Review (Vol. 45:619 Chimeras were once merely the fantastic creations of science fiction; however, rapid advances in genetics, cloning, and embryology have resulted in the blurring of species lines, including our own species, Homo sopiens.4 In particular, recent advances in the development of chimeras have led to the creation of a variety of organisms with both human and animal components. 5 Despite these scientific developments and the expanding discussion of chimeras among bioethicists, legal discourse has not explored thoroughly the implications of this emerging technolog-y.6 In the United States, there is no regulatory body prepared to address the specific legal and ethical issues that chimeras present.? The Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") has not extended its regulatory reach to embryonic chimeras,8 although it has made a controversial claim of jurisdiction over human cloning.9 Furthermore, present efforts to regulate federally funded research, such as President George W Bush's limitation on the creation of new stein cell lines, do not encompass chimera technology directly, or private biotechnology research generally.° Likewise, internal methods of biotechnology regulation, including selfpolicing organizations and institutional review boards, have proven to be insufficient regulators of biotechnology." Unlike the United States, Canada responded to the unregulated pursuit of chimera technology by banning certain human-nonhuman Moral Relevance of Species Boundaries, 3 Am. J. Morn' ics, Summer 2003, at 37, 37 (asserting that Robert and Baylis offer no empirical evidence to support their claim that the existence of chimeras would introduce inexorable moral confusion). See Robert & Baylis, supra note 3, at 1, 4-6. The existence of species lines, however, is biologically problematic. See infra notes 266-267 and accompanying text. 5 Robert & Baylis, supra note 3, at 4; see infra notes 42-70 and accompanying text. 6 See A.M. Chakrabarty, Crossing Species Boundaries and Making Human-Nonhuman Hybrids: Moral and Legal Ramifications, 3 Am. J. Iltormitcs, Summer 2003, at 20, 21. 7 See ERIE PARENS & LORI P. KNOWLES, THE HASTINGS OUR., REPROGENICS AND PUBLIC POLICY: REFLECTIONS AND RECONIMENDATIONS 17 {Stipp. 2003), available at lutp://thehas tingscenter.org/pdf/reprogenetics_and_public_policy.pdf. a See id. at 12. Sec Gregory J. Rokosz, Human Cloning: Is the Reach of FDA Authority Tao Far a Stretch?, 30 SVION HALL L. REV. 464, 511-12 (2000) (asserting that despite the benefits of agency regulation, FDA jurisdiction over cloning is unlikely to survive a serious challenge). In See President George W. Bush, Address to the Nation on Stem Cell Research from Crawford. Texas, 37 WEFEILV Count'. PRE'S. Doc. 1149, 1151 (Aug. 9, 2001), http://frwebgate.access.gpo.govirgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2001_presidential doctunents& dock1=- pd13atiOlixt-9.pdf. 11 See Lori A. Alvino, Note, Who's Watching the Watchdogs? Responding to the Erosion of Research Ethics by Enforcing Promises, 103 Ccu.um. L. REV. 893, 901-09 (2003) (suggesting that administrative regulations governing federally funded research on human subjects and oversight by institutional review boards provide inadequate safeguards). 20041 Regulating Human-Nonhuman Chimeras 621 combinations as part of comprehensive legislation designed to regulate human reproductive technologies) 2 The Canadian Parliament passed the Assisted Human Reproduction Act (the "AHR Act") in 2004, 13 despite criticism urging greater legislative justification for the Act's provisions and modification to the statutory definitions." In contrast, legislators in the United States have Struggled to reach a consensus on embryo research and human c (...truncated)