Genetically modified animals in research : an analysis of applications submitted to ethics committees on animal experimentation in Sweden

• The use of genetically modified animals in biomedical research has increased during recent years and its ethical aspects have been subject to academic discussion. In order to make this discussion more concrete, we analyzed applications submitted to animal ethics committees in Sweden in 2002. The aim was to investigate the researchers’ statements concerning the production and use of genetically modified animals as well as the committees’ assessments. For our analysis, we constructed an Analytic Form. In part, we followed the questions and categories of the mandatory Application Form, noting for example species, degree of severity as regards pain and distress, handling of pain, and endpoints. In part, we created questions and categories of our own and classified the applications accordingly. We focused particularly on methods of production and on expected clinical symptoms due to genetic modification and experimental use. Our analysis – partly quantitative, partly qualitative – showed, inter alia, that applications were often approved in spite of insufficient information regarding ethically relevant aspects, that the arguments for using genetically modified animals were often unclear, and that some applicants indicated awareness of the possibility of unintended welfare effects due to genetic modification, while others did not. We noted that many applicants stressed that certain GM animals were to be used without manifesting any clinical symptoms. This was obviously viewed as an ethical advantage. We found that obvious or minor clinical symptoms due to genetic modification were expected in more than a third of the applications.

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Filosofi, etik och religion -- Etik (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Philosophy, Ethics and Religion -- Ethics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

transgenic animals

animal welfare

animal experimentation

animal ethics

genetically modified animals

animal ethics committees

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art (ämneskategori)

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