Paper short abstract:

We explore the practices of modelling human cells in nonhuman organisms and how researchers approach interspecies relationships within organisms. Broadening of interspecies relations across cellular levels can reframe boundaries structuring research between human research subjects and animal models

Paper long abstract:

Interspecies relationships are becoming key units of analysis in the anthropology of biomedicine. Nevertheless, anthropological approaches to interspecies relations should be broadened in light of both the history and present practices of ‘chimera biology’ - a series of 20th and 21st century experimental techniques and processes that use interspecies organisms as model organisms and research tools. Drawing on multi-sited research conducted between 2020 - 2021 with bioscientists, we explore the practices and processes of modelling human cells and tissues in non-human organisms, and how researchers approach interspecies relationships that occur deep inside developing organisms. We argue that a broadening of interspecies relations across embryonic, cellular and organismic levels can help us reframe dominant boundaries that structure clinical and translational research between human research subjects and animal models, along with contributing to anthropology’s disciplinary ability to respond to the ethical and technical demands of contemporary bioscience.