Chinese researchers claimed in August to have created the first human/rabbit hybrid embryo.

The researcher was carried out at Shanghai Second Medical University and details about the research was published in Cell Research, a bimonthly peer reviewed journal of the Shanghai Institute of Cell Biology.

The researchers claim they fused skin cells from a number of human source with rabbit cells that had most of their rabbit DNA removed. According to the researchers, 400 of the hybrids grew into early embryos and more than 100 survived to become blastocysts.

There are many good reasons, however, to be skeptical that the researchers actually managed to create hybrid embryos.

According to a United Press International story, the report on this research had been submitted and rejected by several more reputable journals over the past two years. The study has been rejected for publication because both the draft and the version published in Cell Research omit data that would make it possible to confirm that the researchers actually resulted in embryonic cells.

And, as UPI tactfully puts it, “researchers in China have gained a reputation for making bold claims about cloning and stem cells that, all too often, prove false.”

Sources:

Scientists Doubt Chinese Claim of Rabbit-Human Clone. United Press International, August 15, 2003.

Cloning yields human-rabbit hybrid embryo. Rick Weiss, Washington Post, August 14, 2003.

A 46-year-old woman suffering from a rare hereditary disorder successfully had her heart removed and parts of it rebuilt using tissue from cows.

Sandra Lanier of Ware, Mass., is one of only about 400 people known worldwide to suffer from “Carney Complex” — a hereditary disorder that causes recurring non-cancerous tumors. In Lanier’s case, it caused tumors to repeatedly grow in her left atrium, and she had endured three open heart surgeries before her most recent operation.

Dr. James Gammie and Dr. Bartley Griffith of the University of Maryland Medical Center removed her heart as part of a 12-hour operation and rebuilt the left and right atrium with human and cow tissue. According to the Associated Press,

During the operation, Gammie took out the remaining atrial tissue and used cow tissue to replace the back portion of the atria and line up the pulmonary veins so they could be reattached to the heart.

Meanwhile, Griffith rebuilt Lanier’s atria with a combination of animal and human tissue. Griffith said the animal and human tissue knitted together nicely with the remaining half of her own heart.

Griffith performed a similar surgery in 2000.

Source:

Surgeons use animal and human tissue on woman’s heart to remove tumor. Brian White, Associated Press, August 29, 2003.

Two years ago, Wisconsin Citizens for Cranes and Doves began won a lawsuit that delayed a mourning dove hunt in Wisconsin. Activists won that battle, but they lost the war on Sept. 1 when the 60-day mourning dove seasons began.

The Humane Society of the United States and The Fund for Animals tried a last ditch appeal to Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, but Doyle’s spokesperson said in response that “The courts and the Legislature have already spoken on this issue.”

Hunters in Wisconsin will shoot an estimated 120,000-150,000 doves from September 1 through October 30.

Sources:

Mourning Doves: Doyle won’t halt dove hunt despite protests. Associated Press, August 29, 2003.

Mourning dove hunt begins in Wisconsin. Minnesota Public Radio, September 2, 2003.

The World Wildlife Fund recently publicized a Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature survey of the hippopotamus population in the Democratic Republic of Congo. That survey estimates that the hippo population has declined from a high of 29,000 in the early 1970s to only about 1,300 specimens today.

Of course the Democratic Republic of Congo has been racked by war and corrupt governance during much of that period, so it is hardly surprising that poachers and others have been killing hippos with impunity. What is genuinely surprising is the perverse effect that the ban on the trade in ivory has had on hippo populations. According to New Scientist,

In recent years, hippo meat has become a delicacy in parts of central Africa. Furthermore, the present worldwide ban on the trade in elephant ivory has meant hippo teeth, which can grow to 60 centimeters or more long, have become a valuable substitute.

This switch is darkly ironic, because hippos are now much rarer than African elephants. The global hippo population is now estimated at about 150,000, but there are more than half a million African elephants.

African nations where elephants are plentiful have repeatedly petitioned for a resumption of the world ivory trade (limited lifting of the ban, usually to sell pre-ban ivory stocks, has taken place occasionally since 1989).

Sources:

Poaching causes hippo population crash. NewScientist.Com, August 29, 2003.

Poachers will wipe out hippos in Congo, WWF warns. Reuters, August 28, 2003.

In the early morning hours of August 28, two bombs placed by animal rights extremists exploded at the headquarters of Chiron Corp., a biotechnology company, in Emeryville, California. A third device consisting of a five-gallon plastic jug of gasoline was discovered unexploded and was safely detonated by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department.

The bombs were detonated just days after Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty had named Chiron its target of the week. Chiron spokespersons said the company has no current contracts with HLS, but has used the testing firm in the past and will use them again in the future.

A group calling itself the Animal Liberation Brigade took credit for the bombings, issuing a communique through the extremist web site Bite Back!,

In the early hours of August 28th volunteers from the Revolutionary Cells descended on the animal killing scum Chiron. We left them with a small surprise of 2 pipe bombs filled with an ammonium nitrate slurry with redundant timers. This action came about because Chiron has continued their murderous connection with Huntingdon Life Sciences even though they have been exposed numerous times as some of the most egregious animal killers in the industry.

Chiron, you were asked to sever your ties with HLS, you were told, and yet you continued your relations with them. Now it is time for you face the consequences of your actions. If you choose to continue your relations with HLS you will no longer be subject only to the actions of the above ground animal rights movement, you will face us. This is the endgame for the animal killers and if you choose to stand with them you will be dealt with accordingly. There will be no quarter given, no more half measures taken.

You might be able to protect your buildings, but can you protect the homes of every employee?

From palestine to euskal herria, from the jungles of colombia to northern ireland, the struggle will continue until all of the oppressive institutions are destroyed!

for animal liberation through armed struggle, the Revolutionary Cells

–animal liberation brigade

SHAC spokespersons the media that it was not involved in the explosions but that this was the sort of action that SHAC supported. SHAC’s Andrea Lindsay told KGO-TV in San Francisco of the need to constantly pressure employees of firms like Chiron,

At 5:00 p.m., those people think they get to check out and go home and forget about what their company is doing to animals and we want to remind them that those animals are sitting in cages overnight. The animals don’t get to check out at 5:00 p.m. and neither do they. Until their company stops supporting this cruelty, they’re going to be a focus of this campaign 24-7.

Sources:

Was Emeryville Biotech Company Targeted?. KGO-TV, August 28, 2003.

Animal rights activists suspected in Chiron blasts. Reuters, August 29, 2003.

Animal rights group takes credit for Chiron bombs. KTVU.Com, August 29, 2003.

Seven Japanese firms with branches in the United Kingdom succeeded in August in having a judge create an injunction against animal rights protesters similar to the injunction that Huntingdon Life Sciences was granted in June.

The companies asked for the injunction after protesters associated with Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, the Animal Liberation Front and the Animal Rights Militia staged protests at the offices and homes of employees of the companies due to their connections with Huntingdon Life Sciences. According to a BBC report,

. . . harassment took the form of threatening letters and phone calls, sending letters to neighbors alleging directors are pedophiles or sex offenders, painting slogans, smashing windows and assault.

The injunctions were issued under authority of Great Britain’s new anti-stalking law. Activists have challenged the stalking law itself, and that case will be taken up by British courts later this year.

Sources:

HLS boost after judge grants protest bans. Peterborough Now, August 29, 2003.

Stalker laws to block activists. The BBC, August 27, 2003.

Stalking Law Used To Protect Animal Rights’ Targets. Stephen Howard, Press Association, August 27, 2003.

Animal rights group targets win safe zone. The Times (London), August 28, 2003.

HOUSE
BILL No. 5029

style='font-size:11.5pt'>August 13, 2003, Introduced by Rep. Tabor and referred
to the Committee on Conservation and Outdoor Recreation.

A bill to amend 1994 PA 451,
entitled

“Natural resources and
environmental protection act,”

by amending section 40103 (MCL
324.40103), as amended by 2000 PA

191; and to repeal acts and
parts of acts.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE
OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1 Sec. 40103. (1) “Game”
means any of the following animals

2 but does not include privately
owned cervidae species located on

3 a registered cervidae livestock
facility as that term is defined

4 in the privately owned cervidae
producers marketing act:

5 (a) Badger.

6 (b) Bear.

7 (c) Beaver.

8 (d) Bobcat.

9 (e) Brant.

10 (f) Coot.

style='page-break-before:always'>

1 (g) Coyote.

2 (h) Crow.

3 (i) Deer.

4 (j) Duck.

5 (k) Elk.

6 ( style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>l style='font-size:11.5pt'>) Fisher.

7 (m) Florida gallinule.

8 (n) Fox.

9 (o) Geese.

10 (p) Hare.

11 (q) Hungarian partridge.

12 (r) Marten.

13 (s) Mink.

14 (t) Moose.

15 (u) Mourning dove.

16 (v) (u)
Muskrat.

17 (w) (v)
Opossum.

18 (x) (w)
Otter.

19 (y) (x)
Pheasant.

20 (z) (y)
Quail.

21 (aa) (z)
Rabbit.

22 (bb) (aa)
Raccoon.

23 (cc) (bb)
Ruffed grouse.

24 (dd) (cc)
Sharptailed grouse.

25 (ee) (dd)
Skunk.

26 (ff) (ee)
Snipe.

27 (gg) (ff)
Sora rail.

style='page-break-before:always'>

1 (hh) (gg)
Squirrel.

2 (ii) (hh)
Weasel.

3 (jj) (ii)
Wild turkey.

4 (kk) (jj)
Woodchuck.

5 ( style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>ll style='font-size:11.5pt'>) (kk)
Woodcock.

6 (mm) ( style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>ll style='font-size:11.5pt'>) Virginia
rail.

7 (2) “Interim order of
the department” means an order of the

8 department issued under section
40108.

9 (3) “Kind” means
an animal’s sex, age, or physical

10 characteristics.

11 (4) “Normal agricultural
practices” means generally accepted

12 agricultural and management
practices as defined by the

13 commission of agriculture.

14 (5) “Open season”
means the dates during which game may be

15 legally taken.

16 (6) “Parts” means
any or all portions of an animal, including

17 the skin, plumage, hide,
fur, entire body, or egg of an animal.

18 (7) “Protected”
or “protected animal” means an animal or kind

19 of animal that is designated
by the department as an animal that

20 shall not be taken.

21 (8) “Residence”
means a permanent building serving as a

22 temporary or permanent home.
Residence may include a cottage,

23 cabin, or mobile home, but
does not include a structure designed

24 primarily for taking game,
a tree blind, a tent, a recreational

25 or other vehicle, or a camper.

26 Enacting section 1. Section
40110 of the natural resources

27 and environmental protection
act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.40110, is

style='page-break-before:always'>

1 repealed.

On July 31, a state official upheld a policy by Nobles County, Minnesota that raises a number of roadblocks to access information about feedlots in the county.

The Nobles County Commission approved a policy that adds additional requirements for people to meet if they want a copy of the comprehensive list of the 514 feedlots in the county. Individuals must submit a written request for the list, wait five days, pay $250, and retrieve the list in person.

The changes are in response to an April 2003 incident in which an animal rights activist trespassed on a feedlot in Nicollet County in order to photograph the site.

Commissioner of Administration Brian Lamb’s review of the policy largely upheld it with minor changes. The policy originally required individuals requesting the list to identify themselves, which Lamb overruled. The policy also originally said the list would be given to individuals only in printed format, but Lamb ruled that unless there was additional expense in doing so, the county should provide the list in electronic format as well if it were requested. Lamb also said that the county would have to prove that the $250 fee was necessary to cover its expenses — as it claims — should someone requesting the list demand such proof.

Steve Brake, president of the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, wants the state to go further and designate information about feedlots as “security information” that the state would not disclose to the public. Brake told the Worthington Daily Globe (Minnesota),

In the world we live in today, food is important to our national security. We have to start looking at ways to protect it . . . We have to be realistic. Terrorists are going to start looking at our food.

The full text of Lamb’s advisory opinion is available here.

Source:

State upholds Nobles County feedlot policy. Franny White, Worthington Daily Globe (Minnesota), August 5, 2003.

Minnesota Department of Administration Advisory Opinion:03-025, July 31, 2003.

In the September 2003 issue of Nature Biotechnology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas describe a new procedure they’ve developed to speed up the production of antibodies in mice as well as producing higher quality antibodies.

Center director Stephen Johnston led a team of researchers in the 1990s that first demonstrated genetic immunization, and this new research builds on the earlier discovery.

Traditionally, animals such as mice will produce antibodies after being exposed to a specific protein. So-called genetic immunization achieves the same results by injecting the gene for the protein into the animal (in this case, mice).

The newly announced technique uses the antigen gene the researchers want to target, as well as modifying a gene that controls an immune system signaling compound.

The upshot is that not only do the mice pump put the desired antibody quickly, but almost any antibody can be produced this way. In a press release, Johnston said,

A surprising result [of the research] was that we could even make mice make antibodies to their own proteins. We think this system could be used to make antibodies to all the proteins in the genome. We hope these antibodies will contribute to discoveries that drive new advances in disease treatment.

Sources:

Mice become high-output antibody factories. Reuters, August 11, 2003.

Faster method for creating antibodies in mice discovered by UT Southwestern researchers. Press Release, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, August 11, 2003.

In August, India’s cabinet agreed to bring before its Parliament a bill that would ban the slaughter of cows throughout that nation.

Cows, of course, are considered sacred by Hindus and India has experienced waves of Hindu nationalism recently with, as the BBC put it, “the country’s two main political parties . . . battling over which one is the more ‘Hindu.’”

The slaughter of cows is already banned in most Indian states, but persists in Kerala, West Bengal, and seven other Indian states that have significant non-Hindu populations (40 percent of the population in Kerala, for example, is Muslim or Christian).

The BBC cites one example of intersection between Hindu extremism and government policy over cows,

Cows are also revered by many in India who believe some cow products have curative powers.

Scientists at the Centre for Medicinal Plants in Lucknow say distilled cow urine enhances the effects of any medicine and is used in traditional Indian medicine along with dung and fat.

Many companies including the VHP have started selling cow urine for 10 rupees ($0.20) in some parts of the country.

A practice, by the way, that is explicitly endorsed by Minister for Human Resources Development Murali Manohar Joshi.

Sources:

India targets cow slaughter. Jyotsna Singh, The BBC, August 11, 2003.