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Pros And Cons Of Modifying Domestic Animals

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Dogs are a result of genetic manipulation already, as they are the products of selective breeding in foxes. This was done to domesticate the wild animals in the hopes of making them more tame and friendly towards humans. Scientists are now attempting to manipulate the species even further in order to satisfy the growing demands from the public. This could have negative impacts on the future of domestic animals.
Modern species of dog have taken genetic manipulation to the extreme. An example of this is the English bulldog. It was originally created for the sport of bull-baiting, and in order for the dog to be able to bite down on the nose of the bull and not let go, its genes were manipulated, causing a wide mouth and short muzzle. As the sport …show more content…

They are used as herders, law enforcement operatives, pets, and have many other roles in society. This has all been done through breeding, and the opportunity to modify the dogs at a genetic level gives humans huge power over designing dogs for their roles in society. Biotechnology would allow us to isolate the genes of behavioural and physical traits in the dog, and “decide whether to switch off these genes, switch them out for new ones, or boost their function.”
Genetically modifying domestic animals is a controversial issue in society, as it has many pros and cons. By assessing both, a clear idea of its effects should be evident.
Genetic manipulation can assist in eradicating the negative side-effects cause by selective breeding, such as the diseases and deformities relevant to a specific breed. Genetic manipulation can be separated into ‘”therapeutic” and “enhancement” . Both raise moral issues, but there is a clear difference between the two. Therapeutic aims to cure or treat conditions in the animals, whereas enhancement aims to improve already healthy …show more content…

FIV results in millions of cats dying annually from AIDS, and this research can stop their suffering as well as humans’. It is not just AIDS, however, that the genetic manipulation of cats can be used to research. There are many other diseases such as Alzheimer's as glaucoma that genetic manipulation can be used to cure.
One of the main issues that comes with genetic manipulation of domestic animals is that we are” undoing what nature has worked to create over millions of years” . Animals are specifically adapted to their environment and, when scientists manipulates the genes of a few species in the ecosystem, the entire balance of the ecosystem might fall apart, causing an unknown number of natural animal species to go extinct.
A moral issue that comes into a picture is that animals should have the right to be free of genetic manipulation. Despite this, the law in both the United States and in Europe (where most of this research takes place) tends to support genetic engineering

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Summary: In the book of Shrinking the Cat by Sue Hubbell, the author examines the concept of genetic engineering and argues how genetic engineering is nothing new by providing examples of humans altering genetically the species of cats, corn, apples, and silkworms. The introduction of this book discusses the fact that humans put themselves at the top of lists of the smartest animals. Yet in this case, these lists are hardly objective because they are created by humans. The author provides the example of her very own beloved dog, Tazzie, in the situation of how Tazzie is capable of finding a bone every single time they visit the park.

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As a society we are adapting, changing, and growing every day. Genetic modification is happening; many people are just not aware. Genetic engineering is great for society because it can cause many new advancements for the as in world with no diseases and a world without hunger. “There is a good case for exploring all ideas relevant to our current concerns, no matter where they lead” (Pinker 533). Although no one knows how far genetic enhancing and cloning could go makes it a dangerous idea, does not mean as a society that we ignore it.

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The issue that causes the most anger for many breeders is when people ignore how much health testing they do for their dogs. Many people believe that health testing is a wonderful way to prevent many genetic diseases. Health testing looks at the genes of an animal and searches for impurities, therefore, if an impurity is found the animal is not used for breeding to ensure it does not pass down that disease (Peck). There are a lot of breeders who believe that this fact is overlooked when people who are anti-purebreds make their arguments. Stephanie Poot was one breeder who was extremely offended after reading an article that slandered dog breeders and responded with an article called “Dog Breeder Offended” in which she calls out the article that made her and fellow breeders out to be monsters.

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The fears are often fueled by a concern that such shifts in our thinking may allow tampering with the genetic inheritance of species in an irreversible slide to unchecked commodification of animals and finally to genetic manipulation of humans. Sometimes, instead of the slippery slope, the image of a damn burst is invoked. The idea is that if we begin with “transgenic alteration of inherited materials, the process will be pursued to the point where the human genotype is also altered.” Attention to slippery slope arguments in relation to other practices, for example, certain punishments, abortion, and physician-assisted suicide. Bernard Williams, a noted philosopher, has written an interesting article titled, “Which slopes are Slippery.”

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Artificial selection and crossbreeding, both forms of genetic modification, have been used for centuries by scientists and farmers to obtain the desired traits of crops or animals (Kracht para 1). Moreover, no known risks have appeared from the consumption of GMOs or the genetic modification of crops.

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For hundreds of years dogs have been purebred leading to health concerns. Even though dogs may look tougher, faster, or cuter, healthwise these purebred dogs are not as resilient to problems (Beuchat). This fact is the same for humans. When humans only marry into their close knit ethnic communities, their genetic deficiencies will be continuously passed on to future generations. Mutations, which come from random mating between species are valuable to future generations.

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Fukuyama brings up topics that can be split into two categories: risks and benefits of genetic engineering along with the affordability of genetic engineering. Considering scientists aren’t entirely sure how genes work, they bring about several ills they wouldn’t be aware of, whether they be immediate ills or ills that show up much later (Fukuyama, 678). Genetic Engineering could have horrific effects on a population which could lead to the abandoning of genetic modification, just like in the way that hydroelectricity is no longer used as much because of the potential of dam breaks or environmental effects (Fukuyama, 680). There is also a possibility that only the rich will have access to this technology, so the state would possibly have to intervene to fix this inequality (Fukuyama, 680). Fukuyama concludes his writing by posing the fact that no matter what happens with genetic engineering, genetic engineering will change the course of human history on several levels, and on levels greater than that of any human biotechnology (Fukuyama, 681).

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As technology advances, more things become possible. One of these things is genetically modifying a baby, this is very wrong. Genetic modifying or genetic engineering is altering someone or something’s DNA. Scientists hope to cure diseases with this method but doing this can lead to some harmful effects. This process is very unethical.

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The researchers then combine the broken gene with a healthy gene. This new healthy gene is now modified and free from the mutation it had before. Although many individuals’ ethics and morals stand in the way of gene editing, this technology affects society in many different

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This essay will look more on the advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering. Genetic engineering has some advantages. Firstly it allows for faster growth rate .Genetic engineering allows of plants or animals to be modified so their maturity can occur at a quicker pace outside of the normal growth conditions that are favourable without genetic changes as well .Secondly, it may also provide a cure for disease to improve health (apecsecadmin, 2014). Genetic engineering can be used to eradicate a number of incurable and deadly disease which could be done by identifying the genes that cause these disease, and manipulate them to prevent people from contracting these potentially deadly diseases.

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