SOCIETAL:
One of the major concerns with the use of transgenic animals involves cross breeding between a transgenic animal and native animals. Cross breeding might cause issues with the offspring’s ability to survive. For instance, it was found the some transgenic fish escaped from their tanks and breed with the wild species. Even though the transgenic fish has a mating advantage over the wild fish, it was found that the offspring was not capable of surviving as strongly compared to offspring of the wild species. This basically caused a large decrease in the population of fish species in that area (Fraser Douglas, Barry LeDrew, Angela Vavitas, and Meredith White-McMahon 387).
Many of the societal questions involve whether or not there may be a future risk to the environment or human health which we are at the moment, unaware of. Is the application even useful in some cases, is it even necessary (Enviropig)?
Concerns and Implications:
ETHICAL:
In terms of ethical implications and concerns, many questions are being arised as to whether or not genetically modifying the animal will benefit it or would it in some cases harm and cause suffering to the animal. There are also some people out there who think that if anything, scientist should use in vitro as a method of producing transgenic animals so that the living animals aren’t potentially harmed regardless of the precautions taken (Margawati, Endang). There are many religious beliefs out there that are against transgenic animals as it is seen as “playing God”. Should we be altering nature?
