Imagine curing your sore throat with frog skins, or clearing up bronchitis with pig guts. It may sound like hocus-pocus, or a witch's brew, but animal anti-biotics may be the new frontier of medicine. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, how animals aid human science. Also, what chickens teach us about parenting.

Jeremy Rifkin, president of the Foundation on Economic Trends and author of "The Biotech Century," tells Jim Fleming why he thinks cross-species research (or xenografting) is dangerous. He thinks the ethical problems that arise from mixed species far outweigh the potential medical benefits. AIDS activist Jeff Getty disagrees. He tells Steve Paulson why he received an experimental bone marrow transplant from a baboon and why he believes xenografting is the future of medicine.

Microbiologist Bob Hancock tells Judith Strasser about his research at the University of British Columbia which uses the anti-biotic properties of fish slime to treat human diseases. Also, Richard Conniff tells Judith Strasser about people with close connections to un-huggable animals, like snapping turtles. He once felt moved by a tarantula. His book is "Every Creeping Thing: True Tales of Repulsive Wildlife."

TTBOOK tape editor Mary Lou Finnegan tells a true story about hanging out with a cat and a young deer. Also, Susan McElroy, author of "Animals as Guides for the Soul," tells Steve Paulson that she prefers animals to most people; that they have remarkable healing powers; and that chickens make great mothers.

Distribution dates:

• week of 2/6/2000 - hour 1
• week of 12/13/98 - hour 2