How Far Will We Keep Playing god?

1 Biotechnology in recent years

Biotechnology in recent years has been progressing in leaps and bounds. It represents a quantum leap in the exploitation of animals, allowing humans to move genes from one species of animal into another totally different species.

Scientists and biotech companies in some major countries of the world want to create new animals that produce more and ‘better’ meat, give up their valuable products such as wool more easily and have organs that can be used in human transplants. It doesn’t stop there… many of the genetically modified crops now being field-tested in the US (and around the world) could not only have a devastating Jurassic-Park-type impact on the global eco-system but also hit agriculture-based third-world economies dependent on cash crops. Genetic engineering is a one-dimensional ‘reductionist science’ that ignores the wider dynamics of life systems.

Genetic engineering primarily involves the introduction of genes containing DNA (deoxyribose-nucleus acid) procured from humans or animals into cells of bacteria, yeast or other animals. One of the outcomes is termed ‘Transgenic Animal’. These transgenic animals cannot be bred by natural/traditional selection or artificial insemination.

Donor females are given hormone injections and hormone-impregnated sponges are also inserted directly into their reproductive tracts, so as to make them produce lots of egg cells. This process has been termed ‘super-ovulation’. These eggs are then artificially inseminated either manually or surgically. Next the embryos are collected by further surgery or slaughter. These embryos are then injected with foreign DNA containing the genes of preferable traits, and then transferred into foster mothers, by surgery again.

It takes 80 donors and recipient animals to produce only one transgenic cow — if everything works perfectly — which is VERY rare.

2 Once the transgenic animal is produced

Once the transgenic animal is produced, its suffering just about starts… for example, non-porcine genes have been added to pigs, producing animals with gastric ulcers, liver and kidney disorders, lameness, damaged eye-sight, loss of coordination, sensitivity to pneumonia and diabetic conditions.

Genetic engineering research is most often carried out on animals such as pigs, mice, sheep, farm animals, and fish, and sometimes, even on some plants such as tomatoes, tobacco, and corn.

Vegetarians around the world are seriously wondering whether the food they are eating is actually vegetarian. In the case of Flavor Savor as they are usually called, tomatoes are genetically altered by introducing into them genes from a fish, the Arctic Flounder, so as to reduce freezer damage, to enable them to have a longer shelf-life, to ripen longer on the tree while remaining firm at the time of picking and transporting and to make them bigger and tastier as well. No layman can make out the difference between Flavor Savor and a normal tomato which is primarily why staunch vegetarians want the altered tomatoes labeled.

Other such experiments with vegetables include chicken genes introduced into potatoes for resistance to disease and for increasing shelf-life and size, tobacco altered with mouse genes to reduce impurities, or with a gene from fireflies that makes the leaves glow at night. Some biotechnologists go to the extent where it becomes a game for them — playing around with the genes of animals. This might result in some ghastly creature produced just to satisfy someone’s whims and fancies.

3 Scientists in the US have bred a mouse

Scientists in the US have bred a mouse called the ‘Oncomouse’ which has been genetically engineered to develop cancer and in due course die a slow, painful death. The first oncomouse was bred in 1981, yet, in the past 15 years, a cure for cancer still seems to elude scientists. Genetic engineering on mice does not stop there. A mouse specifically created to lack an immune system has been used to grow human organs, like ears, externally, and even internally. The absence of an immune system ensures that the mouse will not reject human tissues. Scientists make a look-alike mold of a human organ, say, an ear, with biodegradable polyester fabric or other polymers.

They then transfer the bone/muscle cells into the form and transplant it on the mouse. When ready, the organ is ‘grafted’ from the mouse. The mouse somehow manages to remain alive after the ear is removed.

Similarly, scientists have managed to grow liver, skin, cartilage, bone, ureters, heart valves, tendons, intestines, blood vessels, and breast tissue with such polymers. But, if the idea of reversing the experiment (substituting the mice with humans) came about, people would call it blasphemous! No thought for the animals is involved. The extent to which these experiments will go is uncertain. A change will only come about when scientists realize the animals’ right to live a normal, healthy life, without man tampering with their genes.

Pigs are also grown transgenetically so that their organs can be transplanted into humans. Transgenic pigs were first produced in 1985. Scientists have succeeded in making the required organs in pigs capable of producing human cells. These proteins they hope will trick the human immune system while transplanting the organ(s) so that the recipient does not react to the foreign tissue.

Another example is that of sheep that have been injected with hormones, and bioengineered to cause wool-shedding to produce the so-called ‘self-shearing’ sheep. This is done in Australia, where, unfortunately for the sheep, the climate is mostly hot and sunny. As a result, some sheep experience an increased rate of abortion.

4 WHERE WILL IT ALL END?

WHERE WILL IT ALL END?

Talking about sheep, meanwhile, Welsh Mountain clone sheep are living proof that life can be created without sperm! A scientist at Rosalin Institute created them by fusing a cell grown in the laboratory with an empty sheep egg through a spark of electricity. Imagine growing a sheep in a lab dish! Ironically, when pondering about doing the same with human beings, scientists find it ‘unethical’!

In another bizarre experiment, Indian scientists at the Nimbalkar Research Institute, Phaltan, Maharashtra, have, by artificial insemination, created an animal with a goat head and the body of a cow. This animal grows fatter faster and the volume of meat has therefore increased.

Scientists claim that they can, and will make genetically-altered animals that will help cure human diseases and illnesses; well, transgenic research has been going on for nearly 20 years, and it still has not cured a single human illness. But illnesses like diabetes, blindness, lameness, and cancer (among others) have all been produced unexpectedly in animals subjected to these ridiculous experiments. Genetic engineering at lengths such as these is a symbol of consumerism gone berserk. Is it really fair that animals and their environment face the brunt of our insatiable curiosity?

Considering that “to err is human” the probabilities of a misjudgment or misstep or mis-reaction resulting in a catastrophe are very high. And in such an eventuality, it will be next to impossible to trick the genie (or ‘gene’) back into the bottle (test tube).

Note:

5 How Far is it Ethical?

by P.H. Butani

Genetic engineering on animals is highly undesirable, unnatural, and therefore unethical. Some rationalists believe that it is tantamount to tinkering with nature’s pre-planned program. Once modified, the individual genetic ‘personality’ of the animal stands irreversibly altered. It is used AGAINST the well-being of animals rather than FOR their welfare.

Genetic engineering is highly immoral because of four robust reasons:

1. Although lower in the order of evolution animals are very much sentient beings which mean that they are capable of feeling pleasure and pain in the same way as we do.

2. In the case of humans, their permission is taken for genetic engineering. Further, for certain experiments, they are paid ‘inducement money’ and in the case of failure, they are given generous compensation. In contrast, in the case of animals, genetic engineering is done without their permission or any compensation which is patently mean and unfair.

3. Animals being speechless and defenseless, cannot run away (all escape routes are blocked), resist (they are held down), protest (they are muzzled), or lodge a police complaint nor can they move the court for redressal of their grievances.

4. There are psychological perspectives also. Like human mammals, animal mammals also develop great attachment toward their young. And when any of the young is forcibly separated from the mother, she feels sad and expresses her sorrow. Early weaning leads to abnormal behavior and pathological changes in the small intestine. Even rough handling affects their psyche. Fear of humans reduces the reproductive performance of animals. Further, in the cloning of animals (say cow, buffalo, pig, rabbit, mouse, etc.) multi-identical offspring are born. The mother becomes attached to her young and each offspring’s separation from her causes mental shock and plunges her into depression. Repeated cycles of this trauma leave her heartbroken. This is mental cruelty.

Thus, the prime motive for using genetic engineering on animals is not for any real concern for or welfare of them but solely and ultimately for the benefit of man. In other words, all gains go to man and nil to animal — it stands to lose its health, limb, or life for man.