Researchers reportedly create first ever human-monkey hybrids via gene-editing

In a major breakthrough, scientists have reportedly created first ever human-monkey hybrids embryos in a lab.

According to reports, Spanish newspaper El País has claimed that a team of researchers, led by Spanish biologist Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte, are growing first ever human-monkey hybrids embryos in a Chinese lab through gene-editing technology.

The report suggests that the team took monkey embryos and used gene-editing technology on them in order to deactivate genes required for forming some specific organs. They then injected human stem cells into the embryos in order to create those hybrids.

Scientists put human gene into monkeys to make them smarter, human-like

The idea to create these hybrids is that the monkeys born from these embryos will contain organs that the doctors could transplant into human patients. However, for now, the researchers are destroying the embryos within 14 days of gestation before it can develop a central nervous system and so that they could be studied, wrote Express.co.

Researcher Estrella Núñez said, “The ultimate goal would be to create a human organ that could be transplanted, but the path itself is almost more interesting for today’s scientists. I am essentially aware that I will not see it happen, but to arrive at that point, it’s necessary to pass through this one.”

Núñez said that the results were promising and soon further details of the project will be revealed.