Open AccessGenomics and ethics: the case of cloned and/or transgenic animals
Author(s) -
de Montera Béatrice
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
comparative and functional genomics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1532-6268
pISSN - 1531-6912
DOI - 10.1002/cfg.243
Subject(s) - genomics , biology , genetics , medical law , amplified fragment length polymorphism , epigenetics , identity (music) , computational biology , ethical issues , engineering ethics , sociology , genome , political science , gene , philosophy , law , engineering , population , demography , genetic diversity , aesthetics
The point of the present study is to illustrate and, if possible, promote the existing link between genomics and ethics, taking the example of cloned and transgenic animals. These ‘new animals’ raise theoretical and practical problems that concern applied ethics. We will explore more particularly an original strategy showing that it is possible, starting from philosophical questioning about the nature of identity, to use a genomic approach, based on a mplification f ragment l ength p olymorphism (AFLP) and m ethylation‐ s ensitive a mplification p olymorphism (MSAP) detection, to provide useful tools to define more rigorously what cloned animals are, by testing their genetic and epigenetic identity. We expect from the future results of this combined approach to stimulate the creativity of the philosophical and ethical reflection about the impact of biotechnology on animals, and to increase scientific involvement in such issues. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.