On crossbreeding humans and chimps

Twink (neptune@mars.superlink.net)
Tue, 18 Nov 1997 20:35:55 -0500 (EST)


At 11:42 PM 11/17/97 -0500, Brian L. Fritz <bfritz@shol.com> wrote:
>> Then there is the technical aspect of uplifting: how do we do it? I
>> have been thinking about the cruicial role of language in
>> bootstrapping intelligence; maybe the addition of a more advanced
>> language system to an uplift species would be a good start?
>
>A mule is the offspring of a donkey and a horse. I've read some where
>that a chimpanzee and a human are genetically closer than a donkey and a
>horse. Wouldn't cross breeding humans with other primates qualify as a
>form of uplifting? I think this would be technically possible right
>now. Although it may be politically difficult.

How? Artsem a few chimps using some sperm. It would seem extremely
simple and could be done without leaving much evidence behind. It
could be done in the wild, which creates monitoring problems, but would
probably be much easier than incurring the wrath of preservationists.

However, just because there is genetic relatedness does not guarantee
the production of offspring. And remember mules are sterile. This
creates a problem if you want -- and I do! -- the uplift to be a fire and
forget sort of affair. (No pun intended.:)

Daniel Ust