Supporting information

RSPCA views

In biotechnology, the main area of animal welfare concern is the creation and use of genetically altered (GA) animals.

Since the early 1990s there has been a rapid increase in the number of GA animals used in research, whereas the use of other (non-GA) animals has decreased by more than a third. The increase looks set to continue, and is given added impetus by completion of the human and mouse genome sequencing projects.

GA animals are used in many fields of research including fundamental research, toxicity testing, as models of disease, 'bioreactors' to produce drugs or research reagents and as a source of cells, tissues and organs for transplantation.

Ethical and welfare concerns

The technology involves surgery and other invasive procedures that can cause animals pain, suffering or distress.

The creation of GA animals is highly inefficient; large numbers of animals are required and many lives are wasted. The adverse effects can be difficult to predict, recognise and deal with.

Techniques that involve the random mutation of an animal's DNA are by their nature unpredictable. The scientific usefulness of the animals therefore cannot be predicted, which makes the justification for producing them questionable.

GA animals are often described as 'research tools' or 'units of production'. This increases the perception of animals as commodities for human use and/or gain.

The increasing use of this technology is far outstripping public understanding, and the ethical and public debate about its use.

The creation of cloned pets, sports animals and 'living art' is an inappropriate use of biotechnology techniques.