Biotechnology is one of the most important branches of science, the results of which are used in many areas. However, simultaneously, this area is more closely related to ethics problems than others due to the involvement of living beings. These problems are most visible in animal biotechnology since animals have been in contact with humanity for over 11 thousand years and are closely involved in scientific research (Aerni, 2021). As history shows, their use has led to many breakthroughs. In addition, further active application of animal biotechnology can significantly improve the lives of both humans and animals (Mahatthanadull & Thanaboripat, 2021). However, various laboratory manipulation can cause considerable pain to them. Consequently, an ethical dilemma arises: although the use of animals in laboratory experiments can significantly advance science, the suffering they have to go through is entirely unacceptable. Simultaneously, it is impossible to reject these experiments since many research processes are based on them. This video blog aims to analyze this ethical dilemma and its possible implications and put forward possible recommendations and solutions.
The use of animals in the context of biotechnology is a daily routine for researchers. According to statistics, about three animals are used for laboratory experiments every second (Rajathy et al., 2018). Moreover, their use as subjects for testing new drugs is mandatory in pharmaceuticals. Due to this prevalence, many laws, regulations, and restrictions are designed to keep animals safe. However, despite all this, animals sometimes have to suffer, for example, as part of transgenic research (Mahatthanadull & Thanaboripat, 2021). Thus, the main ethical problem is the need to care for animals and relieve them of suffering. Nevertheless, it cannot be fully realized within modern science, which relies heavily on animal experiments.
The presence of this problem gives rise to numerous movements for the introduction of even stricter control or the abolition of animal research. According to some claims, the manipulation of the genes of animals puts them in the category of inventory, not living creatures (Phillips, 2019). However, altogether abandoning such experiments without adopting any effective alternative can be disastrous. First of all, such studies are carried out to study human nature and identify vulnerabilities. It is expressed in the development of various medicines and vaccines using animals. In addition, such experiments are often not possible for fundamental scientific investigation, as demonstrated by the fact that animal research is used in 70 percent of the work of Nobel laureates in medicine (Rajathy et al., 2018). Therefore, if the use of animals as experimental subjects is wholly abandoned, modern science will be significantly thrown back along with humanity’s quality of life.
Thus, at the moment, the dilemma under investigation cannot be fully resolved. Society cannot reject the use of animals in research since there is no full-fledged alternative. However, several recommendations and solutions can minimize harm to living beings used in experiments. One of the most effective in this context is using the 3R protocol with the addition of an additional fourth element. Responsibility is added to the standard reduction, refinement, and replacement, which makes researchers accountable for the importance of fair animal research (Mahatthanadull & Thanaboripat, 2021). Besides, this protocol makes maximum use of computer models to predict the possible effects of drugs, reducing the number of animal tests required. In addition, animals can be replaced with artificially grown tissues or primitive microorganisms.
Thus, although the dilemma cannot be fully resolved, other modern technologies can reduce the use of living beings, using them only in the most challenging cases. Currently, the widespread implementation of ethical animal care principles is often hampered by regulatory agencies and movements such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals that promote a human-centered approach (Aerni, 2021). Therefore, to further resolve this dilemma, it is necessary not only to practice the 4R process but also to launch a large-scale social campaign to emphasize the importance of people’s safe co-existence with animals.
References
Aerni, P. (2021). The ethics of farm animal biotechnology from an anthropological perspective.Sustainability, 13(3674), 1-16.
Mahatthanadull, S., & Thanaboripat, D. (2021). Animal biotechnology and ethical issues.Current Applied Science and Technology, 21(2), 408-417.
Phillips, T. (2019). Societal concerns with biotechnology. ThoughtCo.
Rajathy, L., Louis, R. P., & Leoney, A. (2018). Animal research: Ethics, regulations, and alternatives. The Pharma Innovation, 7(12), 194-200.