Modern scientific advancements allow humans to defy nature. We can cure diseases, genetically modify plants, and even send humans into space. One of the most fascinating feats of modern science, however, is the ability to cross species of animals to create hybrids.
One of the most well-known hybrid creatures is the liger. The liger is a cross-breed between a male lion and a female tiger, not to be confused with a tiglon (a mix of a female lion and a male tiger). By switching the gender of the parent species, 
the hybrid becomes a different animal. For example, the liger is MUCH larger than the tiglon. In fact, the liger is the largest cat in the world; a full-grown liger is exceptionally larger than both of its parents. The liger’s coat is comparable to the color of a lion with tiger-like stripes running down the sides. They also have a white underbelly, a characteristic of tigers.
The liger became famous from the movie Napolean Dynamite in which it was the main character’s favorite animal. After the movie released, I know that a lot of my friends and I wondered if the liger really existed. With a little research, I discovered that not only was the liger real, but that there were various other hybrid animals just like it. Some of these include the beefalo (Buffalo + cow), leopon (leopard + lion), donkra (zebra + donkey), and the dzo (yak + cow).
Although these animals are cool and exotic, some ethical concerns of creating hybrid animals have arisen. Many of the hybrids, including ligers, are born with deformities and die young. Even worse, as the ligers grow older, their bones don’t stop growing and cause them to become deformed, which puts them in pain their whole lives. Others have also stated that these animals serve no purpose other than for human entertainment. They cannot reproduce, so the basic purpose desires of life are taken away from them. These creatures do not do much other than sleep and eat. Despite concerns being brought up by the public, cross-breeding of species is still legal and practiced throughout the country and the world.