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Table 7 Mentions, rejections and endorsements of reasons concerning chimera existence (Category C)

From: Ethical arguments concerning human-animal chimera research: a systematic review

Reasons Concerning Chimera Existence (Category C)

C.1: Crossing human-animal species boundaries could have detrimental metaphysical effects

C.1.i: Existence of chimeras may threaten human dignity

Mention [2, 9, 11, 12, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 48, 49, 53, 73, 74, 79, 80]

Reject [8, 34, 36, 37, 57, 60, 65,66,67,68, 71, 72, 81, 82, 85, 88]

Endorse [14, 42, 54, 56, 63, 92]

C.1.ii: Existence of chimeras may blur species identities

Mention [9, 12, 20, 23, 24, 26, 36, 37, 41, 44, 45, 48, 53, 64, 70, 71, 74, 76, 88]

Reject [4, 11, 18, 22, 46, 47, 55, 56, 66, 73, 75, 81, 85]

Endorse [14, 17, 33, 49, 63, 80, 83, 87]

C.1.iii: Existence of chimeras may violate moral taboosa

Mention [9, 22, 26, 37, 49, 73, 88]

Reject [11, 55, 56, 66]

Endorse [83]

C.1.iv: Existence of chimeras may evoke instinctive repugnanceb

Mention [9, 10, 12, 14, 22, 26, 34, 54, 59, 73, 93]

Reject [13, 28, 57, 65, 66, 77, 82, 85, 88]

Endorse [84]

C.1.v: Creation of chimeras may be unnatural

Mention [4, 9, 20, 22, 26, 37, 45, 48, 49, 73, 79, 80]

Reject [11, 13, 46, 56, 66, 81, 83, 87, 88]

Endorse [none]

C.1.vi: Creation of chimeras may amount to playing God

Mention [2, 20, 22, 48, 73, 87, 93]

Reject [65, 82, 85, 88]

Endorse [none]

C.2: Crossing human-animal species boundaries could have detrimental social effects

C.2.i: Existence of chimeras may lead to moral confusionc

Mention [8, 9, 20, 23, 26, 27, 29, 30, 33,34,35, 43, 48, 49, 52, 74, 75]

Reject [22, 24, 25, 28, 31, 38, 40, 47, 55, 58, 62, 65, 66, 78, 81, 82, 86, 87, 90, 91]

Endorse [17, 69, 73, 93]

C.2.ii: Existence of chimeras may have slippery slope effectsd

Mention [12, 22, 65, 88]

Reject [13, 54, 82]

Endorse [14, 32]

C.2.iii: Creation of chimeras may undermine public support for scientific research

Mention [22, 30, 59, 72]

Reject [76]

Endorse [9, 14]

C.2.iv: Creation of chimeras may result in cross-species pregnancies

Mention [6, 12, 23, 34, 35, 60, 61, 84]

Reject [4, 9, 66, 67]

Endorse [14, 54, 56]

  1. a Suggesting that these taboos demarcate essential moral borders
  2. b Suggesting that this repugnance hints to some relevant moral aberration
  3. c Supposing that the existence of chimeras leads to an erosion of important moral differences in the respective treatment of humans and animals
  4. d Supposing that the existence of chimeras, once permitted, makes it impossible to argue consistently against clear moral malpractices
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BMC Medical Ethics

ISSN: 1472-6939

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