Genetic Engineering and Cloning of Animals: Applications and Ethical Issues

Animal cloning and genetic engineering have become more common in recent years, with a wide
range of uses available. However, there are serious ethical questions raised by these
technologies, especially with relation to animal welfare. We examine the ideas of cloning,
genetic engineering, and their uses, as well as the moral dilemmas they raise.

Cloning in Animals

Cloning is the process of reproducing specific cell types from a "parent" cell or specific DNA
segments from a cell in order to carry on a desired genetic feature. Reproductive, therapeutic,
and DNA cloning are the three different forms of cloning. In this sense, "cloning" mostly refers
to reproductive cloning, which creates an animal with the same nuclear DNA as another animal
that exists now or did exist in the past. Nuclear transfer from somatic cells is used to accomplish
this process (SCNT).1

Contrarily, genetic engineering entails the intentional addition, removal, or substitution of

genetic material as well as the insertion of foreign DNA in order to modify an animal's nuclear or
mitochondrial DNA. Numerous approaches, such as transgenesis—the transfer of genetic
material from one organism to another—or more sophisticated ones like gene deletion or
manipulation of already-existing genes can be used to achieve this.

Application of Cloning

 Companion Animals

1
I. Wilmut et al., Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, 419 NATURE 583 (2002)
 Companion animal creation has been achieved by cloning; the first cloned cat, "CC," was
created in 2002, and the first cloned dog, "Snuppy," followed a few years later. 2
Furthermore, by deleting the gene that codes for the primary cat allergen Fel d1, genetic
engineering techniques have been used to produce hypoallergenic cats.

 Wild Animals

There are plans to clone the woolly mammoth and the extinct thylacine, demonstrating the
possible applications of cloning technology to endangered or extinct species. Conservation
organizations, however, might be wary of these reproductive technologies because they
worry that money for field conservation operations might be diverted by them.

 Farm Animals

In agricultural cattle, genetic engineering is used in a variety of ways to enhance animal

productivity, food quality, disease resistance, and environmental sustainability. Examples
include goats raised to express human lysozyme in their milk for increased nutritional value,
pigs genetically modified to create larger levels of omega-3 fatty acids, and transgenic lambs
and pigs changed to express higher levels of growth hormone.

Furthermore, genetic engineering has been used to give agricultural animals resistance to
illnesses like mastitis, parasites, and prion diseases. To lessen agricultural pollution, a pig
called the EnviropigTM was developed. It is genetically modified to produce an enzyme that
breaks down dietary phosphorus.3

Additionally, medically significant proteins, such the FDA-approved ATryn® therapeutic

protein used to treat hereditary antithrombin deficiency, have been produced in the milk of
genetically modified agricultural animals.

2
B.C. Lee et al., Dogs Cloned from Adult Somatic Cells, 436 NATURE 641 (2005)
3
G. Laible, Enhancing Livestock Through Genetic Engineering — Recent Advances and Future
Prospects, 32 COMP. IMMUNOL. MICROB. 123 (2009)
  Research Animals

Genetically modified animals have a wide range of biological uses, such as

xenotransplantation—the human transplantation of animal tissues, organs, or cells—and the
modeling of human diseases for drug discovery. Animal models with genetic engineering
have been created to study diseases such as cancer, Parkinson's disease, ALS, Alzheimer's
disease, and Parkinson's disease.

Furthermore, the pharmaceutical sector frequently uses genetically modified animals for
drug research, discovery, and risk assessment—especially for checking for drug-induced
genotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and carcinogenicity.

Ethical Issues surrounding Animal Cloning

 Concerns for Animal Welfare

1. Procedural Invasiveness: Creating new genetically modified animal lines frequently

necessitates the death of some animals and the invasive surgical treatment of others, such as
vasectomy, surgical embryo transfer, or tissue collection for genotyping. Nonetheless, there
is a push to improve existing approaches and use less intrusive ones.

2. A Large Number of Animals Are Needed: To create genetically altered animals of

scientific value, a large number of embryos and animals are created due to the inefficiency
of present genetic engineering procedures. This runs counter to efforts to reduce the use of
animals and calls into question the Three Rs of Reduction.4

3. Unexpected Welfare Concerns: The use of genetic engineering techniques can have
unpredicted results, raising concerns about the welfare of the animals. The assimilation of
exogenous DNA or the interplay between imported DNA and host genes may lead to
4
P. Macnaghten, Animals in their Nature: A Case Study of Public Attitudes to Animals, Genetic
Modification and "Nature, 38 SOCIOLOGY 533 (2004)
modifications in the genetic equilibrium of the organism, resulting in diverse behavioral and
welfare effects. Additionally, cloned animals may experience problems in their development
that impact the health of their tissues, organs, and surrogate mother.

 Beyond Animal Welfare

1. Intrinsic Value and Integrity: Because genetic engineering modifies an animal's "telos," or
essence and purpose, some contend that it undermines the intrinsic value and integrity of
animals. This calls into question whether genetic engineering should be allowed to proceed
without moral justification and whether altering an animal's nature is morally acceptable.

2. Human-Animal Relationship: The relationship between humans and animals might be

negatively impacted by genetic engineering if it results in an unequal power distribution
between them, which is known as "asymmetry." This disparity may have unsettling effects
on all interactions between humans and animals.

3. Naturalness and Ecosystem Balance: There are questions over whether it is appropriate to
release genetically altered animals and how this can affect the ecosystems' natural
equilibrium.

4. Public Acceptance and Societal Values: The commercial feasibility of genetically

modified animals will be greatly influenced by public acceptance of these products,
especially those meant for food production. It might be difficult to draw clear boundaries
when determining the ethical bounds of genetic engineering due to varying worldviews and
moral ideals.

 Other Ethical Issues

 1. Intellectual Property and Patenting: Safeguarding the rights to invented animals or
methods might lead to breed exclusivity, restrict data exchange and animal sharing, and
possibly result in needless duplication of genetically modified animal lines.

2. Disposal Restrictions: Until the long-term impacts and hazards are better known, there are
specific standards in place for the disposal of genetically altered animal carcasses, which are
intended to keep them out of the natural ecosystem.

 Implications for Veterinarians

Veterinarians need to educate themselves about the unique needs for care and management
of animals that have been genetically modified as they make their way into the commercial
sector. They can participate in talks about regulations and policy concerning the control and
use of genetically modified animals for commercial purposes.

Educating the public about genetic engineering methods, possible effects on animal welfare,
and food safety is another role veterinarians may have. For talks on this subject to be
productive, they must be aware of the present situation as well as the potential uses of
genetically modified animals in the future.

Cloning and genetic engineering create serious ethical questions about animal welfare,
intrinsic value, integrity, and the relationship between humans and animals, even if they
have several uses in diverse fields. The responsible and ethical development and application
of these technologies necessitates a multidisciplinary approach including all stakeholders,
including veterinarians.

Legal Issues Surrounding Animal Cloning and Existing Laws

There has been much discussion over animal cloning, with many ethical, legal, and safety issues
brought forth. The technology brings issues that need to be carefully considered and regulated,
even though it may have advantages in fields including biomedical research, agriculture, and
conservation. Here is a summary of how several countries—such as India, Europe, and the US—
handle the legal concerns related to animal cloning, along with suggestions for future
development.

Indian Laws:

According to the story, the Department of Biotechnology has outlawed any research on human
cloning, and the Indian government has officially outlawed the practice. It does not, however, go
into specifics on the legality of animal cloning in India. Animal cloning could fall into a legal
gray area in the absence of clear rules, which could result in misuse or unregulated procedures.
India would profit from creating a thorough legislative framework to deal with animal cloning,
taking into account the consequences for welfare, safety, and ethics.

European Laws:

Regarding animal cloning, the European Union has adopted a somewhat stringent attitude,
especially when it comes to food production. The use of cloning for food production has been
virtually outlawed by the EU due to worries about animal welfare, possible threats to food safety,
and environmental effects. The use of animal cloning for other objectives, such conservation or
biomedical research, is not specifically covered by EU rules, nevertheless.

United States Laws:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US has set rules governing the safety and
management of cloned animals used in food production as well as their progeny. Instead of
enacting a general prohibition or permission, the FDA will assess the safety of cloned animals
and their products on an individual basis.5 However, a patchwork of state-level laws and
restrictions has resulted from the absence of a comprehensive federal statute that addresses
animal cloning specifically.

5
J.H. Tanne, FDA Approves Use of Cloned Animals for Food, 336 BRIT. MED. J. 176 (2008)
Areas for Improvement

While some guidance is provided by the current rules and regulations, there are a number of
areas where they may be strengthened to more fully address the legal concerns regarding animal
cloning:

1. International Cooperation and Harmonization: Creating global regulations or guidelines for

animal cloning could aid in coordinating laws and encouraging moral behavior throughout
various areas. Building consensus and collaborating internationally could help resolve worries
about possible abuse or unregulated activities in nations with laxer legal systems.

2. Ethical and Welfare Considerations: The ethical and welfare issues raised by animal cloning
must to be specifically addressed in legal systems. To guarantee the humane treatment of cloned
animals, this may entail defining guidelines for animal welfare, keeping an eye out for any
unfavorable consequences, and placing restrictions on accepted behaviors.

3. Transparency and Public Engagement: Addressing social concerns and fostering a sense of
trust in the regulatory process can be achieved through encouraging public participation and
transparency in the regulation of animal cloning. Policies that are in line with ethical standards
and societal values may be developed as a result of public education initiatives and discussions.

4. Intellectual Property and Patenting: To resolve the legal questions pertaining to patenting and
intellectual property rights in relation to the methods and products of animal cloning, precise
norms and laws are required. This could encourage equitable access to the technology and avert
possible legal conflicts.

5. Oversight and Enforcement: To guarantee adherence to legal frameworks and ethical

procedures in animal cloning, strong oversight systems and enforcement measures must to be put
in place. This can entail mandatory reporting, recurring inspections, and sanctions for
noncompliance.

Policymakers and interested parties can endeavor to create a complete and coordinated
legislative framework that supports the morally and responsibly use of animal cloning
technology, safeguards animal welfare, and addresses societal issues by tackling these areas for
improvement.

The global legal environment pertaining to animal cloning is still complicated and diverse. While
some nations have enacted laws or prohibitions, others function in a legal limbo, underscoring
the necessity of international cooperation and policy harmonization. It is essential to create
thorough legal frameworks that handle important issues including public acceptance, animal
welfare, ethical issues, intellectual property rights, and oversight procedures. Encouraging
participation from all relevant parties, including as legislators, scientists, ethicists, and the
general public, is crucial to guaranteeing ethical and acceptable methods of animal cloning.

A collaborative and multidisciplinary approach will be necessary to strike the correct balance
between addressing legitimate concerns and achieving the potential benefits of this technology as
it continues to evolve. The legal environment around animal cloning can change to encourage
responsible scientific advancement while preserving animal welfare and addressing more general
ethical issues by placing a priority on transparency, respecting society values, and advancing
animal welfare.

References

1. E.H. Ormandy et al., Genetic Engineering of Animals: Ethical Issues, Including Welfare
Concerns, 52 CAN. VET. J. 544 (2011).
2. J. Claxton et al., Ethical, Legal, and Social Aspects of Farm Animal Cloning in the 6th
Framework Programme for Research, 6 CLONING STEM CELLS 178 (2004).
3. Maria Weimer, The Regulatory Challenge of Animal Cloning for Food – The Risks of Risk
Regulation in the European Union, 1 EUR. J. RISK REG. 31 (2010).

4. Luis González Vaqué, The Cloning of Animals for Farming Purposes in the EU: From Ethics
to Agri-Food Law, 9 EUR. FOOD & FEED L. REV. 223 (2014).