Bravo! In a giant leap forward for mankind, DNA scientists have successfully spliced together human genes with those from a vampire bat – creating an amazing new hybrid that some are calling the world’s first real-life vampire!
The tiny embryo, still only four weeks old, would — if allowed to come to full term — have physical traits of both homo sapiens and Desmodus rotundus, a species of vampire bat common in Mexico and South America.
“We do not of course know exactly what it would look like,” says Dr. Hans Lichtstein, head of the team of Austrian scientists. “Most likely a human torso and head, along with bat-like features such as an upturned snout and pointed ears. It will probably have leathery wings but it is unlikely it will be able to fly due to the density of its bones. Theoretically, it would drink milk in infancy and later acquire a taste for blood, the dietary trait known as hematophagy.”
The controversial project was hush-hush until news leaked to the press last week. Dazzled science writers now agree it is the most remarkable use of genetic engineering since the creation of the goat-spider hybrid by University of Wyoming eggheads in 2010.
Scientists have not yet announced whether they will destroy the embryo — which was created for research purposes — freeze their bizarre brainchild for further use, or implant it in a volunteer in the hope that it can be brought to term.
“It would certainly make a splendid entry in the annual Frankenstein Awards,” notes Dr. Lichstein, referring to the exciting competition held each October 31 in which DNA wizards unveil their latest gee-wiz creations. But the researcher hastens to add that the project is far from just fun and games.
“Work in this area of science will hopefully one day lead to the elimination of hereditary conditions such as Tays-Sachs disease, and perhaps in time, result in humans with superior intelligence and longevity.”
MIRACLE or menace? Critters like this one in the movie “Daybreakers” may soon be a common sight.
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Speaking of vampires, the author of this article, C. Michael Forsyth, has written a graphic novel about bloodsuckers overrunning a women’s prison, titled NIGHT CAGE.
If you enjoyed this mind-bending tale by C. Michael Forsyth, check out his collection of bizarre news, available on Kindle and in other eBook formats.
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If you found this story by fiction writer C. Michael Forsyth entertaining, you might enjoy his novels…
The creator of Sherlock Holmes and the world’s greatest magician probe a paranormal mystery in new thriller.
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In Hour of the Beast, a young bride is raped by a werewolf on her wedding night. When her sons grow up and head to college, things REALLY get out of hand.
CREEPY critters are a cinch to create with gene-splicing.
By C. Michael Forsyth
ZURICH, Switzerland — Halloween is around the corner and you know what that means. That’s right, another annual gathering of the world’s top genetic engineers as they parade their kookiest creations at the Frankenstein Awards.
Each year, scientists present life forms they’ve created through gene-splicing. Past winners have included a goat-spider hybrid, a camel with the head of a pig, a bouncy, meowing marvel playfully dubbed the Katgaroo, and last year’s recipient of a Victor in the Most Frightening category: a wriggling, legless poodle with a dash of earthworm DNA.
“The Frankenstein Awards is an opportunity for genetic engineers to get out of the lab, let their hair down and show their creative side,” explains Swiss science writer Julien Anliker.
The Parade of Monsters held on October 31 is the climax of a three-day convention featuring panels, lectures and late-night karaoke.
This year’s presentation is expected to be livelier than ever because for the first time hybrids with human DNA will be included in the competition. Teams of researchers from around the world have been laboring in secret, each hoping to blow away their colleagues with a dazzling new living wonder.
“The Brits have reportedly been working on a human-hamster mix they’ve nicknamed The Humster,” said Anliker. “The Greek team, led by Professor Demetrikos, is going with a cultural theme this year. It’s rumored they’ve been developing a life form inspired by Greek mythology, perhaps a centaur or a minotaur. That’s one of the most eagerly anticipated entries.”
WE CAN make a real minotaur, so why not?
While in past years some critics have denounced the awards ceremony for trivializing genetic research, participants insist that they learn a lot from cultivating their colorful creations. And the scientists point out that DNA manipulation is a boon to mankind.
Dr. Boris Petrovsky of Russia predicts, “One day soon, we will wipe out many genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, discover a cure for cancer, and perhaps engineer a race of superior humans that will serve as the replacement species for homo sapiens.”
CENTAURS figured prominently in Greek mythology.
Copyright C. Michael Forsyth
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TISSUE samples were taken from baby elephant found frozen on the ship.
By C. Michael Forsyth
GOTEBORG, Sweden — An extensive study of the mitochondrial DNA from 17 mammals discovered dead aboard a mysterious Noah’s Ark-like vessel last year has yielded proof that it originated in a parallel universe, scientists say.
“Each of the mammals is genetically similar to its counterpart on Earth, except for a single mutation found in their mitochondrial DNA. This mutation occurred in their common ancestor approximately 80 million years ago,” revealed Dr. Alberik Hakansson, a leading expert in molecular phylogenetics and a co-author of the study.
“This is consistent with the theory that around that time the two universes diverged and developed two markedly different histories.”
Reports of the discovery of the ship frozen in Antarctic ice by Swedish researchers in February 2011 sparked an uproar in the scientific community. The vessel matched biblical descriptions of the Ark in its physical dimensions and contained representatives of scores of species. However, all the animals as well as the entire crew were frozen stiff, as reported on this site last year.
Scientists, Bible scholars and armchair archaeologists proposed a variety of theories to explain the bizarre find. Some Christian leaders asserted that the ship had been planted in the ice as an elaborate hoax cooked up by atheists. Others suggested that a copycat of Noah built his own ark and ventured out during the Flood with disastrous results.
THE MULTIVERSE theory holds that our universe is but one of a vast number.
The theory that the ship, dubbed Noah’s Ark 2 by researchers, hailed from an alternate universe was first proposed by quantum physicist Dr. Jeremy Blinkley, often described as the world’s smartest man. The concept that our universe is just one of many in a “multiverse” is accepted by many theoretical physicists. The expert says he’s “tickled pink” by the results of the year-long DNA study.
“This makes the search for the so-called God particle look like a 2nd grade science project,” Dr. Blinkley declared. “It simultaneously provides powerful proof of the multiverse theory, supports basic tenets of evolution and confirms the literal truth of the Bible.”
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA, found in every cell of a human or animal body, is a useful tool in tracing the ancestry of a species.
Mitochondrial DNA, discovered in the 1960s by Margit and Sylvan Nass with an electron microscope, is a form of DNA located in structures known as mitochondria found in every cell of the body.
“Mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from the mother,” explained Dr. Hakansson.“With ‘ordinary’ DNA the offspring gets a mix of genes from both parents creating a garbled genetic history.
“Since mitochondrial DNA allows you to trace a direct genetic line through the mother, that makes it ideal for mapping out evolutionary trees.”
ANIMALS found frozen aboard Noah’s Ark 2 were in a remarkable state of preservation.
The analysis revealed that the animals from Noah’s Ark 2 all share a mutation in their mitochondrial DNA.
“This mutation must have occurred in the common ancestor of all placental mammals,” revealed Dr. Hakansson. “This was the Eomaia scansoria, a shrew-like creature that weighed no more than 9 ounces.”
Eomaia scansoria (Latin for “tree-climbing dawn mother”) was the ancestor of virtually all mammals, experts say.
“The mutation was a subtle shift in a single nucleotide,” the researcher continued. “The elephant, giraffe and donkey, and other species we took tissue samples from all share the trait. Corresponding animals on our Earth, although they look similar, don’t have it.”
Computers played a vital role in the study, filling in blanks with an assortment of complex algorithms.
“The programs helped us reconstruct several genome sequences,” explained Catherine Gorweyde of the U.K., who led the project’s computer paleogenomics team. The study did not include egg-laying mammals such as the platypus, only animals that bear their young live, known as placental mammals, she added.
For millions of years, the history of the alternate universe was probably quite similar to our own, experts believe.
“It had primitive cavemen like our own Adam and Eve and, presumably, all the significant events in Genesis leading up to the Flood occurred,” said Dr. Hakansson. “But obviously after the Flood the history of the other universe would have been dramatically different, since Noah’s Ark 2 foundered off the coast of Antarctica and all aboard perished.
“We are almost certainly talking about a world devoid of both human life and land animals.”
Biblical scholar Reverend Bob Sudlen, who calls the lab results “stunning,” says we may never how Noah’s Ark 2 got here from the other universe or why it sank.
“Perhaps it was a freak storm or maybe someone on board cracked a joke that angered God,” he observed. “We can only be sure that it was part of the divine plan.”
ALL ABOARD! Noah’s Ark saved a handful of humans and two of every animal — at least in OUR universe.
If you enjoy reading fact and fiction woven skillfully together, you might enjoy the thriller Houdini vs. Rasputin, written by the author of this article.
If you enjoyed this mind-bending story by C. Michael Forsyth, check out his collection of bizarre news, available on Kindle and in other eBook formats.
.
If you found this story by fiction writer C. Michael Forsyth entertaining, you might enjoy his novels…
The creator of Sherlock Holmes and the world’s greatest magician probe a paranormal mystery in new thriller.
The tables turn on an identity thief in the latest thriller by C. Michael Forsyth. To check it out, click HERE.
In Hour of the Beast, a young bride is raped by a werewolf on her wedding night. When her sons grow up and head to college, things REALLY get out of hand.
C. Michael Forsyth is the author of "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle & Harry Houdini in The Adventure of the Spook House,""The Blood of Titans," "Hour of the Beast" and "The Identity Thief." He is a Yale graduate and former senior writer for The Weekly World News
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