Agro-Biotechnology: - The Greens | European Free Alliance

Technical development | Cloned farm animals - a ‚killing application‘? | 11
In future more advanced technologies, such as nuclear transfer from induced
pluripotent 8 stem cells (iPS cells), might be available to be used here. Some
experts expect major technical progress in the combination of SCNT, cell culturing,
iPS cell technology, marker assisted selection and genetic engineering,
that will impact both agriculture and medical research. For example Niemann
et al. (2009) explain:
“The convergence of recent advances in reproductive technology with the
tools of molecular biology opens a new dimension for animal breeding.”
And the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies 9 (EGE,
2008) explains:
“In the long run, the cloning of farm animals could be combined with genetic
modifications so as to have livestock with specific characteristics, for example,
genetic resistance to specific diseases (bovine BSE, mastitis, brucellosis,
tropical diseases etc.) or producing food products of higher value than natural
ones, so-called "nutraceuticals", such as low-lactose milk, kappa casein rich
milk, better beef from myostatin TG cattle etc. In this way, cloning – in combination
with transgenesis – may be a potentially rich source of edible products
for biomedical purposes (e.g. production of proteins, such as milk proteins,
to be used for therapeutic purposes at lower cost, or providing a source of
organs or tissue for xenotransplantation).”
Given this background and recent expectations by experts in the field, it
is necessary to examine the debate about the cloning of farm animals in a
broader technical context. After some years of economic disappointment and
only slow technical process, the proponents of genetic engineering in livestock
are now hoping to reach a new stage of technical possibilities, as a result of a
combination of methods such as SCNT, genetic engineering, culturing of embryonic
cells (including iPS cells) and marker assisted selection (Schnieke, 2009,
Niemann et al., 2009). SCNT in farm animals is practised by some institutions
nowadays and is likely to be just a first step for further technical developments
in engineering and propagating of livestock for commercial purposes that are
around the corner. Thus taking a decision on SCNT technology for food production
should keep in mind that European agriculture might be faced with
further challenges in animal production that might encounter conflicts to “the
European agricultural model, which is based on product quality, environmentfriendly
principles and respect for stringent animal welfare conditions.” 10
8 Cells, capable of differentiating into more than one cell type.
9 The task of the EGE is to examine ethical questions arising from science and new technologies
and on this basis to issue Opinions to the European Commission in connection with the preparation
and implementation of Community legislation or policies; http://ec.europa.eu/european_group_ethics/
index_en.htm
10 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=IM-PRESS&reference=20080623IPR32472&s
econdRef=0&language=EN