Bioethics: limits to the interference with life

The paper presents a review of various ethical considerations to which the application of modern biotechnology in breeding of domestic animals gives rise. The review is based on an automated literature search, covering papers and reports within agricultural bioethics published since 1992. The aim is to present the different points of view in a clear, unbiased manner. First the various concerns and viewpoints are presented. The concerns are divided into three main categories: animal welfare concerns, concerns about animal integrity and concerns relating to human health and environmental issues. Then follows a discussion of how to weigh potentially conflicting concerns against each other. The paper concludes with suggestions about how ethical issues should be handled in practice.