NIH has now largely banned the use of chimps for human medical research -- proposals can only be submitted where there is an unavoidable rationale for research on chimps directly related to a major human health problem (such as cures for Hepatitis virus, which can only infect humans and chimps.)

All non-human-health relevant research on chimps will now be banned from government funding.

Do YOU agree? Should research on chimps to help humans cease? Should ALL research on chimps cease? Or should research on our closest cousins continue?

And what of the Science Fiction concept of genetic "Uplift" of our great ape cousins to full sentience (e.g., David Brin's Uplift Trilogy, and the Planet of the Apes series?)

Should research on chimps, bonobos, orangutans and gorillas be performed -- to grant them full sapience and a place by our side?

What do YOU think?