Human-Animal Chimera Prohibition Act of 2016

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit human-animal chimeras. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Human-Animal Chimera Prohibition Act of 2016 2. Prohibition on human-animal chimeras Part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 51 the following: 52 Human-Animal Chimeras Sec. 1131. Definitions. 1132. Prohibition on human-animal chimeras. 1131. Definitions In this chapter the following definitions apply: (1) Human-animal chimera The term human-animal chimera (A) a human embryo into which a nonhuman cell or cells (or the component parts thereof) have been introduced to render the embryo’s membership in the species Homo sapiens uncertain; (B) a chimera human/animal embryo produced by fertilizing a human egg with nonhuman sperm; (C) a chimera human/animal embryo produced by fertilizing a nonhuman egg with human sperm; (D) an embryo produced by introducing a nonhuman nucleus into a human egg; (E) an embryo produced by introducing a human nucleus into a nonhuman egg; (F) an embryo containing at least haploid sets of chromosomes from both a human and a nonhuman life form; (G) a nonhuman life form engineered such that human gametes develop within the body of a nonhuman life form; or (H) a nonhuman life form engineered such that it contains a human brain or a brain derived wholly or predominantly from human neural tissues. (2) Human embryo The term human embryo 1132. Prohibition on human-animal chimeras (a) In general It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly, in or otherwise affecting interstate commerce— (1) create or attempt to create a human-animal chimera; (2) transfer or attempt to transfer a human embryo into a nonhuman womb; (3) transfer or attempt to transfer a non­hu­man embryo into a human womb; or (4) transport or receive for any purpose a human-animal chimera. (b) Penalties (1) In general Whoever violates subsection (a) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both. (2) Civil penalty Whoever violates subsection (a) and derives pecuniary gain from such violation shall be subject to a civil fine of the greater of $1,000,000 and an amount equal to the amount of the gross gain multiplied by 2. (c) Rule of construction This section does not prohibit research involving the use of transgenic animal models containing human genes or xe­no­trans­plan­ta­tion of human organs, tissues, or cells into recipient animals, if such activities are not prohibited under subsection (a). . 3. Technical amendment The table of chapters for part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 51 the following: 52. Human-animal chimeras 1131. .

Summary: Human-Animal Chimera Prohibition Act of 2016 This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime to knowingly: (1) create, transport, or receive a human-animal chimera; (2) transfer a human embryo into a nonhuman womb; or (3) transfer a nonhuman embryo into a human womb. The term “human-animal chimera” means an organism that, from an early stage of development, contains human and non-human parts. A violator is subject to civil and criminal penalties.