concept proposal 3.0

For my thesis, I will predict the results and consequences of chimeric experimentations- a new field of research, with a goal to improve human's lives, that involves the combination of human and animal cells to create hybrid creatures that are part human and part animal- and develope a web-based database for a make-believe secret lab that performs these experimentations. All creatures would be created from my imagination and modeled, textured, and animated in Maya. My challenge is to not only create a detailed profile for these creatures, but to also provide strong evidence, in the forms of composited images and videos, to prove the real existence of these creatures. The ultimate goal is to make people believe that these creatures do exist and to raise the awareness of the possiblity of chimeric experimentations. The technical challenge is to create realistic characters and to make people think that all the 3D characters really do belong in the scene in terms of lighting and their interactions with real objects. The target audience of this project would ideally be people of all ages. However, due to techical limitations I would like my target audience to be teenagers. They have wild imagintions and are also old enough the understand the concept of genetic mutation and chimeric experimentations.

the chimeric experimentation idea

Although scientists have always been attempting to understand and treat human diseases by manipulating human and animal genes, I believe chimeric experimentations can be taken into another direction to advance people's lives.

Each species of living organisms on earth possesses its own adeptness. Mainly developed for the need to survive, these talents and skills are planted in the genes of the living beings. Humans, for example, developed intelligence that surpassed all other living beings on earth and helped them advanced to the top of the food chain. But on the other hand, the homo sapien is extremely weak in the competition of other aspects such as speed and strength.

For example, the fastest land animal, the cheetah, can reach up to a speed of 70 mph compare to the 20 mph human record. The strongest animal, the rhino beetle, can lift 850 times its own weight compare to the human record of 20 times.

Thus, is it possible to insert cells from a cheetah to human embryos and create humans that can run at 70 mph or add genes of a rhino beetle to human embryos and create the strongest human ever?

Taken this idea further, by mixing the genes of the animal with the longest lifespan, a Madagascar radiated tortoise that is at least 188 years old, with human genes, is it possible to raise the human lifespan to above 150 years?

In addition, if we combine genes of fish and birds with human genes, can we create humans that can breath underwater and fly in the sky? This would create new possibilities so that humans could live in underwater towns and villages located on cliffs or at high altitude. This might actually alleviate the problem of lacking available resources and living habitat in the future due to overpopulation.

Thus, in a sense, chimeric experimentations, that combine human and animal cells to create hybrid creatures that are part human and part animal, might be legitimately claimed to be performed for the sake of humanity's well being.

However, the questions asked by Jeremy Rifkin still stands.
Would such creatures enjoy human rights and protections under the law?
Would they be considered as human at all?
Would they be able to live normal lives without under constant surveillance?
Is it possible for them to mate with creatures from another species?
If it is, then would such a creature be able to mate with a human?
Then come the question: Would society allow inter-species conjugation?
Will they be forced to perform tasks that are dangerous to human?

Also, are they suitable to interact with the mass population in general?
How would normal people react to their strangeness?

Special thanx to ZZ for helping me to come up with the idea~~^_^

the chimeric experimentation inspiration

Chimera, a monster in Greek mythology that had a lion's head, goat's body, and serpent's tail, has given name to a new field of research called chimeric experimentation, or the combination of human and animal cells to create hybrid creatures that are part human and part animal.

Ever since human technology has allowed, scientists have been eager to create chimeras for the sake of what they claim to be humanity's well being. The reason for chimeric experimentations are always to understand and treat human diseases so that humans can live healthier and better lives.

In 2003, Chinese scientists at the Shanghai Second Medical University successfully combined human cells with rabbit eggs and the first reportedly human-animal chimeric embryos are created. This suggested a new way to produce human embryonic stem cells which many scientist hope to use eventually for treating disease.
USAToday.com:Rabbit eggs used to grow human stem cells

In 2004, researchers at the Mayo Clinic created pigs with human blood flowing through their bodies, which believed by many scientists to have possibly created a new model for understanding AIDS.
Mayo Genomics Researchers Observe Genetic Fusion of Human, Animal Cells -- May Help Explain Origin of AIDS

In 2005, Dr. Irving Weissman at Stanford University in California inserted human nerve cells into mounse fetuses and created mice that were one percent human, hoping to investigate how human brain cancers form.
Online NewsHour:EXTENDED INTERVIEW:IRVING WEISSMAN

There are no chimeras known to live past the embryonic stage. Thus, no one really know the exact appearance of a fully grown hybrid. However, what if scientists do succeed in creating fully grown part human and part animals creatures that are able to think like humans and are able to communicate with humans?

Most people do believe the experiments are unethical and do worry about the moral and legal status of such creatures. In the essay, "Scientists Busy Combing Human And Animal Cells to Create Hybrid Creatures," written by Jeremy Rifkin, the social impact of chimeric experimenation is clearly stated. Some of the questions he raised are:
Would such creatures enjoy human rights and protections under the law?
Would they be considered as human at all?
Would they be able to live normal lives without under constant surveillance?
Is it possible for them to mate with creatures from another species?
If it is, then would such a creature be able to mate with a human?
Then come the question: Would society allow inter-species conjugation?

Finally, there is the question:
Are scientist trying to play god and create new species?

personas

Karen is a 2o year old design student studying advertisement. She loves to watch animated films and her most favorite one is Finding Nemo. She also enjoys reading science fiction books as well as trillers. Two of her all time favorite authors are Orson Scott Card and Dan Brown. She lives in an apartment by herself and is hoping to find a roommate. Because she lives very far from her school and needs to travel by subway, she always carries her ipod video with her at all time to keep herself entertained. She also loves shopping and hanging out with her friends.

Jane is a 15 year old high school sophmore who loves animals. She likes reading about them, watching documentary about them as well as going online and search about animals. She loves to draw and draws mainly animals. Her greatest wish is to open a zoo by herself. Her favorite subject in school is biology.

example

This is a very rough example of how the database would work. Each type of creature will have a page dedicated to it. A turntable would clearly show the appearance of the creature. Detailed information would be listed, including name, type, elements combined, height, weight, strengths, weakness, and etc. Evidence of the sightings of the creature would also be provided.

concept proposal 2.3

For my thesis, I would like to develope a database, in the form of a website, of genetically mutated human beings(hybrid humanoids). All creatures would be created from my imagination and modeled, textured, and animated in Maya. My challenge is not only to create a detailed profile for these creatures, but to also provide strong evidence, in the forms of composited images and videos, to prove the real existence of these creatures. The ultimate goal is to make people believe that these creatures do exist and to present a preview about the consequences of genetic mutation. The technical challenge is to create realistic characters and to make people think that all the 3D characters really do belong in the scene in terms of lighting and their interactions with real objects.
The target audience of this project would ideally be people of all ages. However, due to techical limitations I would like my target audience to be teenagers. They have wild imagintions and are also old enough the understand the concept of genetic mutation.

some inspirations

Here are some predicted images of extraterrestrial creatures and videos of interviews with professionals on the existence of aliens. Alien Planet on the Discovery Channel.
Alien Planet

And some amazing composited work of crossbreds in a photoshop contest.
Surf and Turf (all images are copyright protected>_<)