Genmaus & Co

Although animals have been genetically modified for a long time and the number of transgenic experimental animals in biomedical research is increasing, they are still neglected in bioethics compared to genetic engineering in plants. This is despite the fact that animals are directly affected by genetic modifications due to their sentience.

This monograph makes an important contribution to filling this gap in discussion and reflection.

Genetically Modified Animals in Biomedicine

(Animal Rights - Human Duties, Vol. 14)

Arianna Ferrari 

Publisher: Harald Fischer

ISBN 3-89131-417-3

Contents:

• Foreword by Eve-Marie Engels
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction

   

  • 1 Aim, preliminary considerations and approach
  • 1.1 Aim of the work
  • 1.2 Ethical preliminary considerations
  • 1.2.1 The relevance of suffering and the neglect of animal welfare:
  • a problem of pathocentrism to be overcome?
  • 1.2.2 The intermediate rules of animal ethics and the dignity of the animal
  • 1.3 Philosophy of science preliminary considerations
  • 1.4 Integration of philosophy of science and ethical aspects
  • 1.4.1 The ethical relevance of philosophy of science considerations
  • 1.4.2 The philosophy of science relevance of ethical considerations
  • 1.5 Overview of the work

     

  • 2 Genetically modified animals and their applications in biomedical research
  • 2.1 On genetically modified animals, transgenic animals, mosaic animals and chimeras
  • 2.2 Basic research
  • 2.3 Disease research
  • 2.4 Drug toxicology
  • 2.5 Gene pharming
  • 2.6 Xenotransplantation

     

  • 3 State of research and ethically relevant aspects of the genetic modification of animals
  • in biomedical research
  • 3.1 Introduction
  • 3.2 Production of genetically modified animals: state of research and ethical aspects
  • 3.2.1 Microinjection
  • 3.2.2 DNA transfer into embryonic stem cells (ES cells)
  • 3.2.3 Other methods of gene transfer in animals
  • 3.2.4 Nuclear transfer-based cloning
  • 3.2.5 Investigation of gene expression and identification of genetically modified animals
  • 3.2.6 Assessment of the well-being of genetically modified experimental animals
  • 3.3 Keeping genetically modified animals: state of research and ethical aspects
  • 3.3.1 Basic research
  • 3.3.2 Research into human diseases
  • 3.3.3 Drug toxicology
  • 3.3.4 Gene pharming
  • 3.4 Use of genetically modified animals: state of research and ethical aspects
  • 3.4.1 Basic research
  • 3.4.2 Research into human diseases
  • 3.4.3 Drug toxicology
  • 3.4.4 Gene pharming
  • 3.4.5 Xenotransplantation

     

  • 4 Genetic modification and animal dignity
  • 4.1 Genetic modification, moral relevance and animal dignity
  • 4.2 Dignity and animal dignity: a historical excursion
  • 4.3 An excursion on the contemporary concept of human dignity
  • 4.3.1 Human dignity in an anthropological sense
  • 4.3.2 Human dignity in a legal-political context
  • 4.3.3 Human dignity in a bioethical sense
  • 4.3.4 Inferences from the concept of human dignity for the determination of animal dignity 
  • 4.4 Animal dignity in the current bioethical discussion
  • 4.4.1 The dignity of creation as a legal concept
  • 4.4.2 Intrinsic and inherent value
  • 4.4.3 Different conceptions of animal dignity in contemporary animal ethics
  • 4.5 For a legitimization of animal dignity
  • 4.6 Animal dignity – based on the satisfaction
  • of authentic animal needs

     

  • 5 Ethical aspects of the genetic modification of animals in biomedical research
  • 5.1 Animal dignity in the genetic debate
  • 5.2 Genetic modifications: different standards of evaluation for humans and animals?
  • 5.3 "Genetic integrity approach": Genetic modification as a fundamental violation of animal dignity  
  •  5.3.1 The problem of the "unnaturalness" of genetic engineering
  • 5.4 "Welfare approach": Considering the consequences for the evaluation  of genetic modification 
  • 5.4.1 The "happy" laying hens and insentient experimental animals of Rollins
  • 5.5 The possibility of producing genetically modified animals incapable of suffering or insentient animals as a new
  •  touchstone for animal ethical theories
  • 5.5.1 The theoretical prerequisites for the production of genetically modified animals incapable of suffering or insentient animals 
  • 5.5.2 Is the production of genetically modified animals incapable of suffering or insentient animals morally neutral 
  • 5.6 Difficulties and ambiguity of the genetic production of animals

     

  • 6 Philosophy of science aspects of the genetic modification of animals in biomedical research 
  • 6.1 Introduction
  • 6.2 Excursion on the historical aspects of animal experimentation
  • 6.3 The modern debate on the philosophy of science aspects of animal experiments
  • 6.3.1 Can animals suffer? The development of the scientific concept of well-being
  • 6.3.2 The scientific validity of animal experimentation: arguments of proponents and opponents
•  6.3.3 The different interpretation of examples from history
  • 6.3.4 The animal model in biomedical research
  • 6.3.5 Hypothetical-analogous models versus causal-analogous models: the critique of the causal-analogous
  • model in biomedical research
  • 6.4 Philosophy of science goals and implications of the production and use of genetically modified animal models
  •      6.4.1 Arguments for genetic modification in animal experimental research
  • 6.4.2 Arguments against genetic modifications in animal experimental research
  • 6.4.3 Conclusion: Why we compare apples to oranges and the necessity of validating animal models
• 6.5 Gene pharming and xenotransplantation: The new problem of immeasurable risks for humans 
  • 6.5.1 Risk assessment and risk evaluation under uncertainty
  • 6.5.2 Risk potentials of gene pharming for humans
  • 6.5.3 Risk potentials of xenotransplantation for humans

     

  • 7 Genetic modification of animals in biomedical research, the 3R principles  and alternative methods 
  • 7.1 Introduction
  • 7.2 The 3R principles of Russell and Burch and their current development
  • 7.3 What is an alternative method? The problem of validation
  • 7.4 Evaluation of the genetic modification of animals according to the 3R principles
  • 7.4.1 The results of the study by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Health
  • and Consumer Protection
  • 7.4.2 Transgenic experimental animals: a path to Replacement or Reduction?
  • 7.4.3 Transgenic experimental animals: collision between Refinement and Reduction?
  • 7.4.4 Xenotransplantation and gene pharming and the 3R principles
  • 7.5 The ethical and philosophy of science relevance of alternative methods for the
  • balancing of interests in animal experiments
  • 7.5.1 Overview of alternative procedures in basic research
  • 7.5.2 Overview of alternative procedures for animal models for human diseases
  • 7.5.3 Overview of alternative procedures in drug toxicology
  • 7.5.4 Overview of alternative procedures for gene pharming
  • 7.5.5 Overview of alternative procedures for xenotransplantation
  • 7.6 Alternatives through animal experiments? An outline of the problem

     

  • 8 For an integrated evaluation of the genetic modification of animals in biomedical research
  • 8.1 Initial considerations for integrated evaluation
  • 8.2 Consequences of assuming animal dignity for the principles of the intermediate level
  • in the evaluation of the genetic modification of animals
  • 8.3 The criterion of necessary validation of animal experiments
  • 8.4 The criterion of maintaining well-being
  • 8.5 The precautionary principle
  • 8.6 The criterion of the impact on the human-animal relationship and on the image of animals
  • 8.7 General conclusions from the evaluation model
  • 8.7.1 Specific conclusions for basic research
  • 8.7.2 Specific conclusions for the field of disease research
  • 8.7.3 Specific conclusions in drug toxicology
  • 8.7.4 Specific conclusions for gene pharming
  • 8.7.5 Specific conclusions for xenotransplantation