Ethics of Research involving animals
Summary
5.34 In this chapter we have discussed five areas of basic research: behavioural studies, physiological studies, studies on development, genetic studies and the use of animals in the development of research tools and techniques such as the production of antibodies and biopharmaceuticals. Research in all of these areas has provided much of what we know about biological systems and their functioning. While most of this activity has sought to contribute to the body of scientific knowledge, it has also led to the discovery of treatments for human diseases (see Boxes 5.2 and 5.4).
5.35 Basic research has enabled scientists to relate knowledge about animal behaviour to knowledge of animal physiology and, more recently, genetics. The results have been compared to human data to further knowledge of human biology and medicine. Genetic studies using animals have enabled the discovery of the location and function of individual genes, many of which play similar roles in a range of different species. We have discussed how research tools such as antibodies have proved invaluable for the development of molecular biology and how new techniques in genetics, including cloning and pharming, may allow advances in treatments for human diseases.
5.36 The impact of basic research on the welfare of the animals that are used is as varied as the types of research. It ranges from little impact to serious consequences for the animals’ welfare. The former comprises research such as the observation of animals in their natural habitats, whereas the latter comprises research that changes the normal functioning of an animal through, for example, surgery or infection with a disease. New technologies, including genetic modification, cloning and pharming, also have the potential to adversely affect welfare. For example, the technical difficulties involved in cloning mean that a great number of animals are necessary to produce a single cloned animal. The number of animals that will be used in genetic research is expected to increase very substantially in the next few years. We noted, for example, that 300,000 new transgenic mouse lines could be created over the next two decades. A particular cause of concern regarding GM is that any implications for welfare are difficult to predict and that current techniques are relatively inefficient, requiring large numbers of animals for the production of a single GM strain.
Footnotes23 GTC Biotherapeutics (2004) ATryn® – Recombinant Human Anti-thrombin, available at:
http://www.transgenics.com/products/atryn.html. Accessed on: 24 Apr 2005.
24 See (2004) Down on the pharm The Economist: Technology Quarterly Supplement 16 Sept, pp34–5.
25 These include Nexia and Viragen. See Viragen Avian Transgenic Technology, available at:
http://www.viragen.com/avian_intro.htm. Accessed on: 24 Apr 2005; Nexia Biotechnologies Protexia™ – A Bioscavenger,
available at: http://www.nexiabiotech.com/en/01_tech/09.php. Accessed on: 24 Apr 2005.