The use of genetic engineering technology in animals has been associated with ethical issues, some of which relate to animal welfare. Discuss examples of genetically engineered animals and evaluate the ethical concerns of genetic engineering.

1. Group 9: Bek Tai Kiat
Muhammad Ahyad Bin MD Aiani
Chan Shook Pui
Yeow Wei Kee
Cheong Yi Enn
Farah Syamimi Binti Salleh
Ashna

2.  Targeted and powerful method of introducing desirable traits into animals using
recombinant DNA technology.
 Change the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes within and across
species to produce novel organisms.
 Requires three elements: the gene to be transferred, a host cell into which the gene is
inserted, and a vector to transfer.
 Ethical problems of genetically engineered animals are usually concerned about the
danger these animals may pose to human beings rather than any implications for the
animals themselves.

3.  Sudden-death mosquitoes are a form of a GMO which have the capability of
eradicating mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever.
 It's an extremely effective way of triggering a mosquito population crash and bring
down the population from within.
 Oxitec, an Oxford biotech- based company, controlling insects that are harmful to
the people and the environment.
 This is the largest company that has targeted the dengue fever based
mosquito, Aedes aegypt, and uses a lethal genetic modification to decrease the
population of these mosquitoes.

4.  The males mosquitoes in this project are targeted and their genes are genetically
modified with an antibiotic tetracyclin that is used to fight against malaria and dengue.
 When the GM mosquitoes mate with female mosquitoes, the relevant gene will be
inherited to their offspring, which cause the baby mosquitoes to die of old age before
reaching sexual maturity.
 The original male mosquito dies shortly after impregnating the female mosquito
without the antibiotic tetracyclin.
 The genes that are modified are silenced with the addition of tetracyclin, then when
this antibiotic is taken away the "silenced" genes turn on.

5. Figure: Genetic modified mosquitoes being cultured on a petri dish.

6.  A combination of gene from the Chinook Salmon and DNA fragments from the Ocean
Pout is integrated into the genome of the Atlantic Salmon
 Gene from the Chinook Salmon enables the AquAdvantage® Salmon to produce
growth hormone
 DNA fragments from the Ocean Pout act as an ‘on switch’ that enables the
AquAdvantage® Salmon to more efficiently produce growth hormone
(Aquabounty 2015)

7. Figure 1: AquaBounty's salmon (background) has been genetically modified to grow bigger and
faster than a conventional Atlantic salmon of the same age (foreground).
(Aquabounty 2015)

8.  This allows fast growing AquAdvantage® Salmon to reach market size in half the
time of a conventional Atlantic Salmon.
 AquAdvantage® Salmon available only as all female, sterile, eyed eggs, and the
resulting fish must be maintained in a freshwater, land based, physically contained
facility
(Clifford 2014)

9.  Direct microinjection of DNA into young embryos
I. Integrate foreign DNA into the embryonic genome at the one-
cell stage
II. Embryo develops all of its cells will contain the transgene.
III. Transfer embryo to reproductive tract of a recipient female
IV. Transgenic offspring can be born
(Murray, J.D & Anderson, G.B 2000)

10.  Cloning from transgenic somatic cells
I. Alternatively, somatic cells can be collected, cultured in the
laboratory,
II. Exposed to foreign DNA.
III. Transgenic cells can be selected for use as nuclear donors in
nuclear-transfer procedures.
IV. The resulting nuclear-transfer embryo will be transgenic
V. Transfer embryo to reproductive tract of a recipient female
VI. Transgenic offspring can be born
(Murray, J.D & Anderson, G.B 2000)

11.  Aims to produce milk with different properties:
I. Milk rich in omega-3 fats
 by inserting bacteria genes into cow’s DNA (Gray.R 2012)
II. Milk contains low-lactose milk
 by injecting genes from archaea, that are talented at limiting lactose
production, into cow embryos (Conservation institute 2015)
III. Milk with the same nutrients and fat content as human breast milk
 by inserting human genes into the cow’s DNA genome (Gray.R 2011)
(Genome Alberta 2012)

12. Milk rich in omega-3 fats (normally found in fish oil and nuts)
 Mammals do not have the ability to make omega 3 fatty acids
 Protect against heart disease and playing a role in brain function.
I. Milk contains low-lactose milk
 Help people who are lactose intolerant lack the ability to digest milk
properly and can cause stomach problems in sufferers.
II. Milk with the same nutrients and fat content as human breast milk
 Help to boost the immune system of babies and reduce the risk of
infections.
 Human breast milk contains lysozyme, lactoferrin, alpha-lactalbumin.

13. Is it right to genetically modify organisms and assume that scientists
can improve the results of billions of years of natural evolution?
 Seen as playing God or putting people in the place of the Creator.
 Humans modifying the world in a way, which does not occur
naturally.
Is it morally acceptable to cause pain and death to animals?
 Animals have the ability to suffer.
 Animals have lack of moral standing, as they are irrational.
 Using animals in genetic engineering degrades them as creatures.

14. Is it right for animals to be patented? Is it right to define ownership over a specific
species? Does this violate an organism’s rights?
 Benefit humans and environment.
 Inventor of organism must ensure that it will not cause harm to humans and
environment.
 Patent owner must have responsibility over the risks of the organism.
Genetic engineering should be allowed if selective breeding is allowed.
 Many scientists argue genetic engineering is the same as selective breeding.
 Selective breeding interferes with natural selection, but uses natural selection to do so.
The processes involved are all natural.
 Genetic engineering crosses natural barriers. It is a more rapid process and has more
unpredictable results.

15.  Genetically animals tend to grow faster, have healthier meat and flesh,
and be less able to feel the pain and suffering often associated with the
conditions present in modern factory farms.
 Genetically engineered animals are also created to help medical
researchers in their quest to find cures for genetic disease, like breast
cancer.
 Endangered animal species can be cloned, thus helping wildlife
management in its goals of preserving wild populations of the earth’s
biological diversity, and by ensuring that endangered animals' genetic
information will not be lost when the last of the species dies.
(Andrew B. Perzigian, 2003)

16.  Natural animals are specifically adapted to a given environment and
when science manipulates the genes of a few species in the ecosystem,
the entire balance of the ecosystem might fall completely apart causing
an unknown number of natural animal species to grow ever extinct.
Despite this debate, the law in both the United States and in Europe, tends
to support genetic engineering research and development by allowing
genetically engineered animals to be patented.
 Patents give scientists a monopoly over their genetically engineered
animal species.Typically, animals could be owned, but never entire
species.
(Andrew B. Perzigian, 2003)

17.  We must not wait and see what the effects genetic engineering animals will have
on the earth.
 We must form educated opinions, lobby for government regulation, and hope that
whatever direction that bioengineering takes us, is a positive step towards
decreased animal suffering, increased environmental sustainability, and an overall
compassionate regard for the earth and its precious life.
(Andrew B. Perzigian, 2003)

19.  Clifford, H. 2014, AquAdvantage Salmon - a pioneering application of biotechnology in aquaculture, viewed 29 Oct 2015
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4204346/>
 Aquabounty Technologies 2015, Salmon DNA Animations & Egg Production, viewed 29 Oct 2015
<http://aquabounty.com/press-room/video-b-roll-animation/>
 Genome Alberta 2012, Scientists develop genetically modified dairy cows, viewed 25 Sep 2015,
<http://genomealberta.ca/livestock/scientists-develop-genetically-modified-dairy-cows.aspx>
 Conservation institute 2015, 8 Bizarre Examples of Genetic Engineering in Animals, viewed 25 Sep 2015,
<http://www.conservationinstitute.org/8-bizarre-examples-of-genetic-engineering-in-animals/>
 Gray Richard 2012, Cows genetically modified to produce healthier milk, viewed 25 Sep 2015,
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/9335762/Cows-genetically-modified-to-produce-healthier-milk.html>
 Gray Richard 2011, Genetically modified cows produce 'human' milk, viewed 26 Sep 2015,
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/agriculture/geneticmodification/8423536/Genetically-modified-cows-produce-human-milk.html>
 Murray. James D & Anderson, Gary.B, 2000, Genetic engineering and cloning may improve milk, livestock production, viewed 26 Sep 2015,
<http://californiaagriculture.ucanr.edu/landingpage.cfm?article=ca.v054n04p57&fulltext=yes>