As some of you may know, I'm a scientist doing genomic and molecular biology work in a reproductive setting. In the past I've also studied how genes are regulated during embryonic development. Anyway, I have an idea for a project I think would be very interesting but the end result may be a little shocking. I don't think I'll ever actually do this project, but it's fun to think about. Here it is:
At a conference a few months ago I met a guy working with parrots. In particular, he studies a particular gene that seems to be responsible for the ability to mimic sounds--to talk. It turns out that all animals that can do so--parrots, humans, mocking birds, etc. have certain features in the regulatory regions of this particular gene, and no other animals do. It seems to be a case of convergent evolution. This particular gene controls the development and function of a particular region of the brain responsible for speech. Anyway, I'm toying with the idea of forming a collaboration with this guy to make a transgenic animal in which we swap the promoter of that particular gene with one (probably the human gene) that has those special features and see if we end up with an animal that can mimic speech. Initially, I would probably use a pig because I work in an animal science department and I have colleagues here with extensive pig cloning experience (which would be a major part of making the transgenic animal), and besides, a pig would be a good one to start with. I think doing this with a dog would probably be a better choice (I would rather have a pet than my breakfast talk to me
), but a pig is just about as good and that's the tool I have available to me. As I think about it, I'm actually pretty well equipped for this kind of project--either I or personal acquaintances with whom I could form a collaboration can do all the work required.
My reason for writing this is I would like to get opinions of other non-scientists. I'm concerned that some people may be bothered by the idea of a talking dog or accuse me of "playing God". Making a transgenic animal is one thing, but giving that animal human-like characteristics in doing so is something else. The results of the experiment would have significant scientific merit, but I am sensitive to ethical concerns. So, what do you think? Would you be wierded out if your dog could talk to you (probably more like a parrot, not in real conversations), or do you think it would be pretty cool?
At a conference a few months ago I met a guy working with parrots. In particular, he studies a particular gene that seems to be responsible for the ability to mimic sounds--to talk. It turns out that all animals that can do so--parrots, humans, mocking birds, etc. have certain features in the regulatory regions of this particular gene, and no other animals do. It seems to be a case of convergent evolution. This particular gene controls the development and function of a particular region of the brain responsible for speech. Anyway, I'm toying with the idea of forming a collaboration with this guy to make a transgenic animal in which we swap the promoter of that particular gene with one (probably the human gene) that has those special features and see if we end up with an animal that can mimic speech. Initially, I would probably use a pig because I work in an animal science department and I have colleagues here with extensive pig cloning experience (which would be a major part of making the transgenic animal), and besides, a pig would be a good one to start with. I think doing this with a dog would probably be a better choice (I would rather have a pet than my breakfast talk to me
), but a pig is just about as good and that's the tool I have available to me. As I think about it, I'm actually pretty well equipped for this kind of project--either I or personal acquaintances with whom I could form a collaboration can do all the work required.My reason for writing this is I would like to get opinions of other non-scientists. I'm concerned that some people may be bothered by the idea of a talking dog or accuse me of "playing God". Making a transgenic animal is one thing, but giving that animal human-like characteristics in doing so is something else. The results of the experiment would have significant scientific merit, but I am sensitive to ethical concerns. So, what do you think? Would you be wierded out if your dog could talk to you (probably more like a parrot, not in real conversations), or do you think it would be pretty cool?
). However, I don't like the idea of PETA destroying lab or threatening my family.
) I wonder if another system, more like Chinese, one that's less dependent on phonetics, would be more approachable to someone with a mutated/missing FOXP2 gene?
