Animal genetic manipulation--a utilitarian response

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Animal Welfare
• Genetics

Background:

• Animal genetic manipulation, or transgenesis, involves altering an organism's genetic makeup.
• Ethical considerations surrounding transgenesis are complex, involving potential suffering and the morality of genetic alteration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To ethically evaluate the process and outcomes of animal transgenesis.
• To address objections concerning genetic alteration, human transgenesis, killing, and animal suffering.

Main Methods:

• Philosophical examination of moral arguments related to transgenesis.
• Analysis of concepts such as 'deliberate genetic sequence alteration,' 'replaceability,' and 'personhood.'

Main Results:

• Rejection of the intrinsic wrongness of genetic sequence alteration and the inevitability of human genetic manipulation.
• Justification of killing in transgenesis through 'replaceability,' except for entities with 'personhood.'
• Identification of 'significant suffering' as a key ethical concern.

Conclusions:

• Animal transgenesis is not intrinsically wrong and should not be prohibited per se.
• Utilitarians should support a default prohibition on transgenic experiments causing significant suffering.
• Ethical frameworks must carefully weigh the benefits against the potential for animal suffering.