Human–animal hybrid: Difference between revisions
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The term '''human-animal hybrid''' refers to an entity that incorporates elements from both [[Human|humans]] and non-human animals.<ref name=Columbus>{{citenews|last=Johnson|first=Alan|date=November 15, 2012|title=Human-animal mix might become illegal|publisher=''[[The Columbus Dispatch]]''|accessdate=August 6, 2015}}</ref><ref name=wet/> In various [[Mythology|mythologies]] and fictional works throughout world history, many famous human-animal hybrids have existed, playing roles from that of | The term '''human-animal hybrid''' refers to an entity that incorporates elements from both [[Human|humans]] and non-human animals.<ref name=Columbus>{{citenews|last=Johnson|first=Alan|date=November 15, 2012|title=Human-animal mix might become illegal|publisher=''[[The Columbus Dispatch]]''|accessdate=August 6, 2015}}</ref><ref name=wet/> In various [[Mythology|mythologies]] and fictional works throughout world history, many famous human-animal hybrids have existed, playing roles from that of [[trickster]]s and [[villains]] to divine [[hero]]es in very different contexts depending on the given [[culture]]. | ||
For example, [[Pan (god)|Pan]] is a [[deity]] in [[Greek mythology]] that rules over and symbolizes the untamed wild, being worshiped by [[Hunter|hunters]], [[Fisherman|fishermen]], and [[Shepherd|shepherds]] in particular. The mischievous yet cheerful entity has the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a [[goat]] while otherwise being essentially human in appearance, with stories of his encounters with different gods, humans, and others being retold for centuries on by groups such as the American [[Delphian Society]].<ref name=delphian>{{citebook|title=Hebrew literature. Greek mythology, life and art|pages=169-171|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WKIOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA169&dq=%22pan,+oh,+great+god+Pan%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAGoVChMI1broxaiVxwIVxc-ACh1LegYh#v=onepage&q=%22pan%2C%20oh%2C%20great%20god%20Pan%22&f=false|publisher=[[Delphian Society]]|date=1913|editor=[[J.K. Brennan]]}}</ref> The human-animal hybrid also has appeared in acclaimed works of art by figures such as [[Francis Bacon (artist)|Francis Bacon]].<ref name=wet>{{citebook|pages=12.3|title=Wetwares: Experiments in Postvital Living|author=[[Richard Doyle]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0FPKNU7mrUC&pg=PT26&dq=%22just+you+watch!%22+pan&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAmoVChMIvb-r96WVxwIVApWACh1RZAjj#v=onepage&q=%22just%20you%20watch!%22%20pan&f=false|date=2003|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|ISBN=9781452905846}}</ref> | For example, [[Pan (god)|Pan]] is a [[deity]] in [[Greek mythology]] that rules over and symbolizes the untamed wild, being worshiped by [[Hunter|hunters]], [[Fisherman|fishermen]], and [[Shepherd|shepherds]] in particular. The mischievous yet cheerful entity has the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a [[goat]] while otherwise being essentially human in appearance, with stories of his encounters with different gods, humans, and others being retold for centuries on by groups such as the American [[Delphian Society]].<ref name=delphian>{{citebook|title=Hebrew literature. Greek mythology, life and art|pages=169-171|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WKIOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA169&dq=%22pan,+oh,+great+god+Pan%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAGoVChMI1broxaiVxwIVxc-ACh1LegYh#v=onepage&q=%22pan%2C%20oh%2C%20great%20god%20Pan%22&f=false|publisher=[[Delphian Society]]|date=1913|editor=[[Rev. J.K. Brennan]]}}</ref> The human-animal hybrid also has appeared in acclaimed works of art by figures such as [[Francis Bacon (artist)|Francis Bacon]].<ref name=wet>{{citebook|pages=12.3|title=Wetwares: Experiments in Postvital Living|author=[[Richard Doyle (professor)|Richard Doyle]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0FPKNU7mrUC&pg=PT26&dq=%22just+you+watch!%22+pan&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAmoVChMIvb-r96WVxwIVApWACh1RZAjj#v=onepage&q=%22just%20you%20watch!%22%20pan&f=false|date=2003|publisher=[[University of Minnesota Press]]|ISBN=9781452905846}}</ref> | ||
When looked at scientifically, such beings, defined by the magazine ''[[H+]]'' as "genetic alterations that are blendings [sic] of animal and human forms", may be referred by other names occasionally such as "para-humans", | When looked at scientifically, such beings, defined by the magazine ''[[H+]]'' as "genetic alterations that are blendings [sic] of animal and human forms", may be referred by other names occasionally such as "para-humans";<ref name=arts>{{citeweb|title=Arts: The Parahuman Sculpture of Patricia Piccinini, Posthumanity and What It Really Means to be Human|publisher=''[[H+]]''|date=October 11, 2013|accessdate=August 6, 2015}}</ref> one of them also may be called a "humanized animal". Technically speaking, they are also related to "cybrids" (cytoplasmic hybrids), with "cybrid" cells featuring foreign human nuclei inside of them being a topic of interest. Possibly, a real-world human-animal hybrid may be an entity formed from either a human egg fertilized by a nonhuman sperm or a nonhuman egg fertilized by a human sperm.<ref name=Columbus/> While at first being only a fictional concept, the first stable human-animal chimeras (not technically hybrids) to actually exist were first created by Shanghai Second Medical University scientists in 2003, the result of having fused human cells with rabbit eggs. | ||
In terms of scientific ethics, the creation of human-animal hybrids is a topic that has been subject to some debate in the U.S. and the U.K., with the state of Arizona banning the practice altogether in 2010. A proposal on the subject sparked some interest in the U.S. Senate from 2011 to 2012 but ended up going nowhere. Although the two concepts are not strictly related, discussions of experimentation into blended human and animal creatures has paralleled the discussions around embryonic stem-cell research (the 'stem cell controversy'). | In terms of scientific ethics, the creation of human-animal hybrids is a topic that has been subject to some debate in the U.S. and the U.K., with the state of Arizona banning the practice altogether in 2010. A proposal on the subject sparked some interest in the U.S. Senate from 2011 to 2012 but ended up going nowhere. Although the two concepts are not strictly related, discussions of experimentation into blended human and animal creatures has paralleled the discussions around embryonic stem-cell research (the 'stem cell controversy'). The creation of genetically modified organisms for a multitude of purposes has taken place in the modern world for decades, examples being specifically designed foodstuffs made to have features such as higher crop yields through better disease resistance. | ||
The creation of genetically modified organisms for a multitude of purposes has taken place in the modern world for decades, examples being specifically designed foodstuffs made to have features such as higher crop yields through better disease resistance | |||
The concept of humanoid creatures with hybrid characteristics from animals, played in a dramatic and sensationalized fashion, has been a recurrent topic in fictional media such as [[Hollywood]] films as well. An example is ''[[Splice]]'', a 2009 movie about experimental genetic research.<ref name=Columbus/> | The concept of humanoid creatures with hybrid characteristics from animals, played in a dramatic and sensationalized fashion, has been a recurrent topic in fictional media such as [[Hollywood]] films as well. An example is ''[[Splice]]'', a 2009 movie about experimental genetic research.<ref name=Columbus/> | ||
==Historical and mythological hybrids== | ==Historical and mythological hybrids== | ||
Creatures displaying a mixture of human and animal traits and behaviors while having a similarly blended appearance frequently appear in both [[Greek mythology]] and [[Roman mythology]]. | Creatures displaying a mixture of human and animal traits and behaviors while having a similarly blended appearance frequently appear in both [[Greek mythology|Greek]] and [[Roman mythology]]. Characters of such have also been a recurring theme in both [[Chinese mythology|Chinese]] and [[Japanese mythology]]. | ||
For instance, the Greek figure of [[Pan (god)|Pan]] is a [[god]] that rules over and symbolizes the untamed wild, expressing the inherent beauty of the natural world as the Greeks saw things. He specifically received reverence by [[hunters]], [[fishermen]], [[shepherds]], and other groups with a close connection to nature. Pan possesses the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a [[goat]] while otherwise being essentially human in appearance; with stories of his encounters with different gods, humans, and others have been a part of popular culture in several different cultures for many years.<ref name=delphian/> The human-animal hybrid also has appeared in acclaimed works of art by figures such as [[Francis Bacon (artist)|Francis Bacon]],<ref name=wet/> as well being mentioned in writings such as by [[John Fletcher (playwright)|john Fletcher]].<ref name=delphian/> | For instance, the Greek figure of [[Pan (god)|Pan]] is a [[god]] that rules over and symbolizes the untamed wild, expressing the inherent beauty of the natural world as the Greeks saw things. He specifically received reverence by [[hunters]], [[fishermen]], [[shepherds]], and other groups with a close connection to nature. Pan possesses the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a [[goat]] while otherwise being essentially human in appearance; with stories of his encounters with different gods, humans, and others have been a part of popular culture in several different cultures for many years.<ref name=delphian/> The human-animal hybrid also has appeared in acclaimed works of art by figures such as [[Francis Bacon (artist)|Francis Bacon]],<ref name=wet/> as well being mentioned in writings such as by [[John Fletcher (playwright)|john Fletcher]].<ref name=delphian/> | ||
Revision as of 21:04, 6 August 2015
The term human-animal hybrid refers to an entity that incorporates elements from both humans and non-human animals.[1][2] In various mythologies and fictional works throughout world history, many famous human-animal hybrids have existed, playing roles from that of tricksters and villains to divine heroes in very different contexts depending on the given culture.
For example, Pan is a deity in Greek mythology that rules over and symbolizes the untamed wild, being worshiped by hunters, fishermen, and shepherds in particular. The mischievous yet cheerful entity has the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat while otherwise being essentially human in appearance, with stories of his encounters with different gods, humans, and others being retold for centuries on by groups such as the American Delphian Society.[3] The human-animal hybrid also has appeared in acclaimed works of art by figures such as Francis Bacon.[2]
When looked at scientifically, such beings, defined by the magazine H+ as "genetic alterations that are blendings [sic] of animal and human forms", may be referred by other names occasionally such as "para-humans";[4] one of them also may be called a "humanized animal". Technically speaking, they are also related to "cybrids" (cytoplasmic hybrids), with "cybrid" cells featuring foreign human nuclei inside of them being a topic of interest. Possibly, a real-world human-animal hybrid may be an entity formed from either a human egg fertilized by a nonhuman sperm or a nonhuman egg fertilized by a human sperm.[1] While at first being only a fictional concept, the first stable human-animal chimeras (not technically hybrids) to actually exist were first created by Shanghai Second Medical University scientists in 2003, the result of having fused human cells with rabbit eggs.
In terms of scientific ethics, the creation of human-animal hybrids is a topic that has been subject to some debate in the U.S. and the U.K., with the state of Arizona banning the practice altogether in 2010. A proposal on the subject sparked some interest in the U.S. Senate from 2011 to 2012 but ended up going nowhere. Although the two concepts are not strictly related, discussions of experimentation into blended human and animal creatures has paralleled the discussions around embryonic stem-cell research (the 'stem cell controversy'). The creation of genetically modified organisms for a multitude of purposes has taken place in the modern world for decades, examples being specifically designed foodstuffs made to have features such as higher crop yields through better disease resistance.
The concept of humanoid creatures with hybrid characteristics from animals, played in a dramatic and sensationalized fashion, has been a recurrent topic in fictional media such as Hollywood films as well. An example is Splice, a 2009 movie about experimental genetic research.[1]
Historical and mythological hybrids
Creatures displaying a mixture of human and animal traits and behaviors while having a similarly blended appearance frequently appear in both Greek and Roman mythology. Characters of such have also been a recurring theme in both Chinese and Japanese mythology.
For instance, the Greek figure of Pan is a god that rules over and symbolizes the untamed wild, expressing the inherent beauty of the natural world as the Greeks saw things. He specifically received reverence by hunters, fishermen, shepherds, and other groups with a close connection to nature. Pan possesses the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat while otherwise being essentially human in appearance; with stories of his encounters with different gods, humans, and others have been a part of popular culture in several different cultures for many years.[3] The human-animal hybrid also has appeared in acclaimed works of art by figures such as Francis Bacon,[2] as well being mentioned in writings such as by john Fletcher.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Template:Citenews
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Template:Citebook
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Template:Citebook
- ↑ "Arts: The Parahuman Sculpture of Patricia Piccinini, Posthumanity and What It Really Means to be Human". H+. October 11, 2013.
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