Transgenic Animals
Transgenic Animals
Much speculation exists regarding the ever-broadening technology of creating Transgenic Animals and their theorised suffering sparking a social, ethical and economic debate over cost factors of the research and development versus ultimate benefit to science aiding the benefit of our Society. Though one could persuasively argue for the benefits or risks of this process, this essay will demonstrate the future and present benefits and risks (ethical, social and economic) of this gene technology and evaluate how these advantages and disadvantages take part in human everyday life.
Clinton and Richmond’s (2009) publication defines Transgenic Animals as those animals that have had their genome altered deliberately to help serve a better purpose to mankind. A review of the literature covering the process provides insight into the wide use of these animals and the five main categories and their specific and important use. Such animals assist scientists to better understand diseases; produce pharmaceuticals in milk to aid healthcare; produce organs for human transplant; food source for consumption and to better understand biology as scientific models.
Such amazing technology feats and societal gains are achieved through the use of a recombinant DNA technology which involves dissecting and cutting DNA (including between species) for the purpose of inserting or removing pieces from an animal’s genome. For this technology to be successful the inserted foreign gene must be successfully incorporated into the DNA of the host and be expressed correctly to give the animal its new trait (Richmond, 2009).
Transgenic animals are created through two main methods of microinjection into the male pronucleus of a newly fertilised egg or microinjection, transfection or viral infection of embryonic stem (ES) cells (“Transgenic Animals”, 2003). Shorn et al (2003) report The most commonly used method to create a transgenic animal is through microinjection of a gene
Much speculation exists regarding the ever-broadening technology of creating Transgenic Animals and their theorised suffering sparking a social, ethical and economic debate over cost factors of the research and development versus ultimate benefit to science aiding the benefit of our Society. Though one could persuasively argue for the benefits or risks of this process, this essay will demonstrate the future and present benefits and risks (ethical, social and economic) of this gene technology and evaluate how these advantages and disadvantages take part in human everyday life.
Clinton and Richmond’s (2009) publication defines Transgenic Animals as those animals that have had their genome altered deliberately to help serve a better purpose to mankind. A review of the literature covering the process provides insight into the wide use of these animals and the five main categories and their specific and important use. Such animals assist scientists to better understand diseases; produce pharmaceuticals in milk to aid healthcare; produce organs for human transplant; food source for consumption and to better understand biology as scientific models.
Such amazing technology feats and societal gains are achieved through the use of a recombinant DNA technology which involves dissecting and cutting DNA (including between species) for the purpose of inserting or removing pieces from an animal’s genome. For this technology to be successful the inserted foreign gene must be successfully incorporated into the DNA of the host and be expressed correctly to give the animal its new trait (Richmond, 2009).
Transgenic animals are created through two main methods of microinjection into the male pronucleus of a newly fertilised egg or microinjection, transfection or viral infection of embryonic stem (ES) cells (“Transgenic Animals”, 2003). Shorn et al (2003) report The most commonly used method to create a transgenic animal is through microinjection of a gene