RE your report on human-animal embryos (Echo, Sept 6). This is a great idea. Personally, I'd like to have the brain of a human combined with a body several times the weight of the average human, and preferably covered in fur.

The advantage of this lies in the reduced heat loss, which in turn means I'd be able to lie around in the open in all weathers like cows or horses.

This would obviate the work required to purchase clothes, houses and heating for the latter. In turn, the working week would be reduced to about one hour, plus there would be no more global warming.

In addition to genetic engineering on humans, I'd like to see some high energy food, like potatoes, genetically engineered so that I'd be able to eat them without cooking them. This would mean even less global warming and almost no work (apart from planting potatoes).

Ralph Musgrave, Durham.

REGARDING all this talk of hybrid embryos and the permission in principle given by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to allow "humananimal"

embryos research by the Institute for Human Genetics, Newcastle (Echo, Sept 6).

The HFEA came to this decision after public consultation "appeared"

to show most people approved such experiments. How is it that I, or indeed anyone I know, was never consulted? Another "back-door" job?

Many years ago, while working for MI5, I was captured by a foreign power whose scientists experimented on my brain using the hybrid technique.

They used eggs taken from a cat.

Now I spend all my time chasing mice. Night-time is spent sitting up on the roof, howling at the moon.

I hope Dr Lyle Armstrong, of the Institute for Human Genetics, has better results. Seriously, my word of warning is: "Don't mess with nature - she has a nasty way of hitting back."

Ed Southgate, Stockton.