[dr.satan (OP)]

If we say in theory that combining certain features of animals was possible, what would you mad scientists create?
I would most likely go for a tiger, with the grunt of a sperm whale (very loud), a mouth of a great white, and the feet of a spider- to climb things. [] dangerous beast it would be  [B)] [B)] [xx(]
Be creative my naked scientist friends! [)] []

[BenV]

I've always thought that a monkey with wings and gills would be good.  They could rule the land, the sea and the air!

[kdlynn]

well someone would create a real mermaid

[_Stefan_]

I'd create a real dragon. Seriously. But there are laws against that kind of genetic play, aren't there?

[another_someone]

I'd create a real dragon. Seriously. But there are laws against that kind of genetic play, aren't there?

Not only are there no such laws, it is difficult to see how they would be applied since interspecies breeding is a long established tradition (just think of mules), so while this may be a more technological means of doing it, and pushes the boundaries of what is possible with it, but the concept is not new.

[_Stefan_]

So if I was able to, I could genetically engineer a new creature, and there'd be no laws or regulations to stop me?

[another_someone]

Don't know what Australian law is like, but until recently there was a prohibition of hybrid human and non-human (even now, cloned humans cannot be allowed to exist more than a few weeks), but as far as I am aware, there is no prohibition on non-human hybrids in this country (and, as I said, I cannot see how it could be, since such hybrids pre-exists GMO technology).

[_Stefan_]

Cool. Thanks for the info George

[JimBob]

I've always thought that a monkey with wings and gills would be good.  They could rule the land, the sea and the air!

Ben, Just think of the monkeys flying around raining poo -- worse than pigeons!

[Monox D. I-Fly]

I've always thought that a monkey with wings and gills would be good.  They could rule the land, the sea and the air!

Ben, Just think of the monkeys flying around raining poo -- worse than pigeons!

Reading this, I immediately think if mythical creatures exist, how would we handle Pegasi sh1t, Gryphon sh1t, Phoenix sh1t, Wyvern sh1t, etc?

[Bored chemist]

I think the duck billed platypus would be a really daft invention.

[syhprum]

"well someone would create a real mermaid"
Genuine humans exist with both legs fused together like mermaids.
In the USSR attempts were made to produce human - gorilla hybrids with no success.

[RD]

A pig-human chimera has been created , (no it's not Donald Trump).

[Ophiolite]

I'd create a real dragon. Seriously. But there are laws against that kind of genetic play, aren't there?

Laws on creating dragons? Yes, like the internet, no flaming is allowed.

[Monox D. I-Fly]

I can make an Asian water dragon then? No, no, not seahorse or oarfish!

[gwynhefar]

You'd have to choose genes that would work with each other.  Pigs and humans are remarkably similar when it comes to the way our organs work.  But I don't think it would be possible to create a cross between two animals that are on vastly different evolutionary tracks, like fish and mammals.  Also, it would be really hard to make most mammals fly - I doubt bird genetics would be compatible and even if you fused bat genes in with another animal and managed to give it wings, the physics of flight would prevent those wings from actually working on anything bigger than a flying fox.  In other words, you might be able to make a mouse fly, but you certainly wouldn't be able to make a flying tiger.