Question

Genetic engineering can be used to create more productive strains of farm animals used for milk and meat production. By adding genes to an animal’s DNA, the animal can be made to be more resistant to common infections. This can reduce the need to administer large doses of antibiotics to the animals.

Do you think that this type of genetic engineering should be pursued?

What are some possible impacts (positive and negative) of this type of genetic engineering on individuals, society, and the environment?

Answer 1

Well, when people first started breeding sheep specifically to produce more productive offspring, we ended up with Scrapie, which is a prion disease. Now, although there are more sophisticated ways of manipulating offspring (they used to use imbreeding), there is still a chance that things will go horribly wrong. You wouldn't want to make genetically "invincible" animals, because that would lead to overpopulation. Also, this sounds expensive.

PROS: If everything worked out and everyone ate enough of these animals to avoid overpopulation (and, therefore, disrupting the food chain), all disaster avoided, we would have cheaper burgers.

I'm not for it, personally.

Answer 2

This is a very heavily debated topic currently in biotechnology, since we have the means and the techniques to actually make this happen right now.

One of the problem that exists with tampering genes is that it is incredibly hard to accurately predict the outcomes of changing the genetic code of the animal you are working on over extended periods. Since there are complex interactions associated with each portion of the genome, and many have yet to be mapped or even discovered. Of course since you know what kind of outcomes you're expecting from the engineering process of the gene (such as fatter meat, better resistance to infections etc), but side effects like cancer, infectious disease (prions mentioned by lemontheif), elevated steroid/hormones can arise unexpectedly as a result. And if such side effects arise, they can ultimately harm the humans who consume them, this can potentially result in a pandemic if the disease has no known cure/treatment.

More indirectly, infectious resistant animals also provide an excellent environment in which superbugs can evolve. You may be able to prevent some infections caused by bacterial species initially by making them more resistant. But bacteria and viruses can also evolve and adapt to the changes made in their own environment, and if such is the case, you can potentially end up with a superbug that is resistant to antibiotics and host immune systems, this is the last thing anyone would want. And if such superbugs have adapted in these farm animals, it would be very bad that they end up in humans who consume them.


Because of this the risks really seems to outweigh the benefits here in my opinion, I think this method isn't really a good way to go about as of right now.

Answer 3

"By adding genes to an animal’s DNA, the animal can be made to be more resistant to common infections. This can reduce the need to administer large doses of antibiotics to the animals.""


Can you provide any example of this??

According to my knowledge Animals are modified for molecular pharming. Its not easy to modify a organism. The process is very costly and takes years to do it.

Scientist in biotechnology are well aware of these fact that single mistake may lead to death of millions.

For every genetic experiment you need to take permission and you can not release organism in free environment without safety assessment. It involves testing of all possible conditions.

So if you get any product in market from GM organism its perfectly safe.

If not,,,, then insulin should be removed from shelf, detergent which we normally used that also be removed,

GM may have some risk but its worth to take them

Answer 4

'a organism' ......i lol'd