The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...
The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...
The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...
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T h e e t h i c s o f r e s e a r c h i n v o l v i n g a n i m a l s<br />
Genetically modified <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> in the<br />
study <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> human disease<br />
Introducti<strong>on</strong><br />
7.1 In Chapter 5 we gave an overview <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the many ways in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> are used for basic<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>, including genetic modificati<strong>on</strong> (see paragraphs 5.16–5.23). In Chapter 6 we focused<br />
<strong>on</strong> their use as disease models. We now c<strong>on</strong>sider an area which brings together GM <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
and the study <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> human disease. In this chapter we first explain the general relevance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
drawing <strong>on</strong> genetic data for the purposes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both improving our understanding about<br />
disease processes, and devising ways <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> preventing and treating them. We then describe<br />
comm<strong>on</strong>ly used disease models and explain how and why mice, zebrafish and rats are used<br />
in this type <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>. We also give a range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> examples that illustrate the scientific<br />
benefits and welfare implicati<strong>on</strong>s for GM <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
7.2 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> pathology <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all diseases, be they infectious, inherited or envir<strong>on</strong>mentally induced, is<br />
affected either directly or indirectly by an individual’s genome. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> study <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> genetics can help<br />
us to understand these fundamental interacti<strong>on</strong>s. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> recent sequencing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the human and<br />
mouse genomes has revealed remarkable similarities. Ninety-nine percent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the genes in these<br />
two genomes have direct counterparts in the two species, although they have slightly different<br />
structures and functi<strong>on</strong>s, and are in some cases regulated differently. Because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these<br />
similarities and because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> practical c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>s (mice breed rapidly, and methods <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> genetic<br />
modificati<strong>on</strong> are more effective, when compared with other mammals) the mouse is used as a<br />
model for <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> human diseases in a range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> different types <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> studies.<br />
Comments <strong>on</strong> the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GM <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> in the<br />
study <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> human disease from resp<strong>on</strong>dents<br />
to the C<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong><br />
‘<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> genetically modified animal models has<br />
allowed <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>ers to generate more accurate and<br />
appropriate models <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> human diseases. This has<br />
facilitated progress and makes it more likely that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> will transfer to human subjects more quickly.’<br />
Genetic Interest Group<br />
‘One viewpoint is that the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> transgenic <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> will<br />
result in a reducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> larger <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>…as<br />
rodent models for disease are now available.’<br />
Sarah Johns<strong>on</strong>, member <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the ethical review panel at<br />
the MRC NIMR<br />
‘Many GM <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> have normal lifespans and suffer no<br />
ill effects as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the presence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a transgene.<br />
Some GM <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> do suffer as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> their genetic<br />
modificati<strong>on</strong> but…in many cases this is less than the<br />
alternative methods <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> generating a similar ‘model’<br />
through surgery or chemical treatment.’<br />
An<strong>on</strong>ymous<br />
‘<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> GM <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> we use is rising fast. This<br />
process is best described as commodificati<strong>on</strong>. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> moral<br />
problem is that <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> are not computers or areas <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
land or other "resources".’<br />
Shaun Carey<br />
‘Even when scientists think they have a "good model" it<br />
is difficult to determine how much its attributes are due<br />
to its genes or to envir<strong>on</strong>mental factors. Wildly<br />
differing results have been found to occur in different<br />
laboratories using the same strains <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> animal in the<br />
same procedures.’<br />
Animal Aid<br />
‘GeneWatch believes that an unjustified emphasis is<br />
being placed <strong>on</strong> the potential for GM <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> to help<br />
understand and treat disease. This is driven by a lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
recogniti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the complex nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> most diseases and<br />
the failings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> laboratory <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> to mimic<br />
envir<strong>on</strong>mental, social and ec<strong>on</strong>omic factors in disease.’<br />
GeneWatch UK<br />
CHAPTER 7 GENETICALLY MODIFIED ANIMALS IN THE STUDY OF HUMAN DISEASE<br />
7.3 Naturally occurring animal models <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> human genetic diseases are rare, probably because<br />
such <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> fail to survive in the wild. In GM models, detailed analyses <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />
development, physiology and biochemistry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a particular disease can be related to a<br />
specific gene or group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> genes. It then becomes possible to understand the <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten complex<br />
relati<strong>on</strong>ship between the gene(s) and the disease process. Furthermore, comprehensive<br />
genomic analysis can improve not <strong>on</strong>ly our understanding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> basic biological processes but<br />
also help us appreciate the potential <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> genes to affect disease processes. It is also possible<br />
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