Quest for the Humanzee

Quest for the 'Humanzee'

Zecharia Sitchin often says that modern science is simply catching up with ancient knowledge. His research looks at the possibility that humanity is essentially a genetically-modified ape. He derived this insight from a literal reading of ancient texts, pursuing the idea that we are physically half-god, half-ape. According to Sitchin ['The Twelfth Planet', 1976], this creation came about because technologically advanced beings visited our world millions of years ago and created a race of slave-workers from the animal stock available on the planet.

To do this they fused together some of their own advanced DNA with that of Earthly apes, creating frightening chimeras. Eventually, after many grotesque mistakes, they created a relatively useful being that was physically robust and adaptable, but also intelligent. In other words, us!

Now, you can readily dismiss this as imaginative speculation. You could even attempt to psycho-analyse Sitchin and see his unusual vision of human development as a personal attempt to get to grips with the warped thinking of the Nazis who conducted such evil experiments upon European Jews during the Second World War. More likely, you might simply wonder whether such ideas are just profoundly misguided, even blasphemous.

However, I can see merit in some of the ideas of Zecharia Sitchin. My personal quest to understand the nature of the tenth planet is testament to that. Although I am no expert in the realm of genetic research it seems clear to me that modern science is indeed moving in the direction that Sitchin envisaged some 30 years ago. It should give pause for thought for anyone who dismisses his theories entirely out of hand.

The reason I can say that is the remarkable direction taken by some of the scientists conducting stem cell research. Now, I should quickly point out that I have no axe to grind here. I am essentially neutral on the subject's political and moral repercussions. I can see merit in arguments for this kind of research because of the potential benefits to the many people suffering debilitating diseases like Parkinsons. But I can also understand the moral viewpoints of objectors to this kind of research who dislike the use of human embryos.

When Parliament debated these issues, as they moved towards creating the Human Fertilization and Embryology Act, many MPs expressed concern with work involving the mixing of human stem cells with specific animal cells from mice or hamsters. The latter cells help the human stem cells to develop in a particular direction towards specific types of cell tissue. These 2-cell stems would effectively be 'chimeras' of human/animal hybrids, albeit at a minimalist level. These 'humsters' or 'mansters' would never be allowed to get beyond the 2-cell stage MPs were told. But research like this is not confined to the UK, and there is now talk about the creation of these kinds of hybrid embryos at a more advanced level.

There is serious discussion about the creation of embryos of mice that that have human brain cells, perhaps as much as 1%. Now bear in mind that there is actually very little genetic difference between humans and chimpanzees. The 3% of the DNA that is different in these species has a profound effect on their physical and mental characteristics. Scientists wonder whether legitimate research may soon take place mixing stem cells of humans with other primates. This brings forward the notion of the creation of a chimera known as a "humanzee".

Professor Steve Jones, a well-regarded British geneticist, thinks that this is a very real possibility, but questions why anyone would actually want to create such an entity ['Today' BBC Radio 4, 30th March 2005]. Other more noisy sceptics deplore the very idea, using it to justify withering attacks on genetic research in general.

This particular argument will run and run. But I am struck by how similar this issue is to that presented by Zecharia Sitchin back in 1976. Are we simply re-creating the experiments that the Anunnaki set about fulfilling hundreds of thousands of years ago? Might we one day also create a slave-race of 'humanzees' to tend our gardens or descend with pick-axes into our mines?

Will we treat a new species any better than we were treated by our 'gods'? After all, according to Sitchin, they grew concerned by our proliferation and our unbridled aggression. They left us to our fate when the Flood came, surprised by the resourcefulness that allowed certain humans to escape extinction. At that point, the Anunnaki abandoned Earth and left us to it. The rest is quite literally history.

Written by Andy Lloyd, author of 'The Dark Star' (2005) and 'Ezekiel One' (2009)

Published by Timeless Voyager Press 2005