genetic manipuations

Question 1

what are the implications of genetic manipulation?

Answer 1

commercial
ethical
social
practical

Question 2

what are advantages of genetic manipulation?

Answer 2

• productivity, nutritional value and disease resistance can be improved in animals and plants
• new breeds and variation can be produced quicker
• ‘pharming’ can be used to modify organisms
• animals can be modified to model diseases for medical research
• breed resilience to extreme conditions
• xenotransplantation could treat illness
  -breed to remove characteristics that have high risk of injury

Question 3

what are disadvantages of genetic manipulation?

Answer 3

• genetic variation may be lost
• may take a long time
  -increased costs and no guarantee of success
• not all animal collections will have the required facilities
• restrictions on where and when manipulation can be used
  -risk to animal health and the environment
  takes a long time to develop gene modification

Question 4

what are some ethical considerations?

Answer 4

• environmental risks
• religious and ethical views
• animal rights
• animal welfare
• species boundaries
• non- modified organisms
• moral views
• regulation and accessibility