The Morality Of Genetically Modified Animals For The...

There are two sides to the morality of genetically modifying animals for the purpose of pharming and xenotransplantation: the potential benefits and the reality. Although genetic modification of mammals carries promises of being able to use said modified mammals as a source of materials used in pharmaceuticals or creating mammalian species with organs that can be transplanted in humans, the reality is that reproductive cloning in mammals has a low success rate. Because of the high demand for organs including hearts, livers, and kidneys, scientists have since turned to genetically modifying mammals such as pigs as a source of potential organs for transplant. This has involved disruption of genes in pigs that cause tissue rejection in humans or knocking out genes that allow transmission of retroviruses. Similarly, some sheep have been genetically modified to secrete through their milk, the human factor IX needed by hemophiliacs. Despite these promising advances, mammalian reproductive cloning still has a low success rate and a high probability of developmental abnormalities. Even if a cloned animal does survive gestation and is not spontaneously aborted, there is a likely chance that it will not survive long after birth. Other abnormalities are frequently seen, such as liver and brain defects, cardiovascular problems, and potential premature aging. This can be seen in Dolly, who had premature arthritis despite only being six years old. Many consider reproductive cloning