Ever since Robert Hooke first observed cork cells in 1665, biochemistry as well as our understanding for cells and genetics has come a very long way. In 1984 when the first brick’ cell phones were just coming out, who would have thought that in just a few mere decades bioengineering and technology would have progressed so much that the animals we eat would be genetically altered. You may have heard genetically of altering fruits and vegetables, but recently genetically altering meat, poultry, and fish has become a very popular and efficient thing to do within food companies. One reason I chose this specific article was to get a better understanding of how the things I am eating got to my plate and if it is safe to eat them. Another more personal reason this article sparked my interest was because of my love for animals. Being an avid ASPCA supporter, I have always wanted to go into a career that involved helping animals, whether this means being an animal behaviorist or running my own animal shelter. I hoped choosing this article would give me the chance to research and delve even deeper into this topic, helping me to understand whether or not these animals are being treated ethically.
You may be confused as to why companies are choosing to genetically modify animals instead of leaving the process as it is. Well, there are actually several reasons why they choose genetically engineered (GE) animals. The companies’ motives behind genetically altering produce are essentially the same as the reasons this is now being done to animals. Just like in fruits and vegetables, genetically engineered animals grow and develop faster and mature more healthily then organic animals. These super animals’ as some people refer to them as, are more resistant to common diseases that can spread from animal to consumer, such as salmonella, mad cow disease, and campylobacter. Animals like cows and pigs are among the animals that can be genetically engineered to become more resistant to potentially fatal parasites such as cryptosporidium and trichinella. Likewise, the stamina and salubrity of adolescent animals is an important factor for these companies to consider. Testosterone and other drugs are now able to be injected male animals, such as roosters and steers, in order to increase the pregnancy and fertility rate within females. Pregnant female animals often go through a special modification that increases the health and number of the offspring. Along with improved hardiness for the animals and their posterity, better yields of meat, milk, and eggs are stemming from GE cows, goats, chickens, and other product-producing animals. GE companies are now able to regulate how lean the meats of slaughterhouse animals, like cows and pigs, are. Companies realize that in today’s health nut’ society, leaner meat is in demand with some consumers. Ultimately, you can see that there are a plethora of various reasons why companies are taking up animal genetic modification.
Before we can understand how this gene-altering process takes place, we first must understand what genetic material is. Genetic material, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), is found in the nuclei of cells within organisms. To put it simply, DNA is the instructions for making proteins within a cell. These instructions’ are very important and that is why they must be contained and protected within a cell’s nucleus. The DNA controls the traits and characteristics in every organism and specifically makes up the being of the organism. Chromosomes are long compact structures in which DNA is packed into. The quantity of all of the genetic material that resides within the chromosomes is referred to as the genome. Each species of organism has a unique genome. For instance, the human genome has 46 chromosomes, 23 from our father and 23 from our mother. Thus the human genome contains 23 pairs of chromosomes. Each chromosome consists of a labyrinthine combination of DNA, RNA, and special proteins that coil around one another to assemble chromatin. Collectively, chromatin is the building blocks of chromosomes. When genetically modifying an animal, the new combination of genetic material is initially built by the use of enzymes, proteins that catalyze reactions in an organism. These enzymes are used to cut genetic materials from a desired source and then used to affix them onto the animal’s present DNA. Through the help of a start’ signal called a promoter and a stop’ signal called a terminator, the enzymes are able to complete this task. For example, when constructing a GE cow that is more resistant to mad-cow disease, bioengineers would use enzymes to attach a gene coding for a protein that is immune to the disease and signals that allow it to be read by the cell, to the cow’s DNA. Now that the cow’s DNA is altered, the cells instructions on making proteins have changed. Therefore the cells will now produce proteins resistant to mad-cow disease.
Larisa Rudenko of the FDA confirms, “We intend to provide a rigorous, risk-based regulatory path for developers to follow to help ensure public health and the health of animals.”, but many people are still wary of these super animals’. The two primary concerns stemming from the public are the safety of the animals and the safety of the consumer. One considerably strong argument that the public voices about the humanity of animals during the GE process is that the FDA never entirely broke down the process of how the enzymes are administered and controlled within the animal. Coupled with this powerful case, critics additionally claim that the application of genes into the genome can result in unidentified side effects and potential fatal harm to the animal. The well-being of the consumer also plays a factor in whether people choose to eat GE animals. Concerns about consumer safety include traces of animal hormones being passed into the food, as well as the allergenicity of the consumers to genetic-altered material being put into animals. For example, if a chicken was genetically altered during pregnancy by special hormones, people are afraid that these hormones could possibly be transferred into the eggs we eat. Moreover, there have also been instances in the U.S. and Europe in which small children and occasionally adults have had allergic reactions to genetically engineered meat, although it is still ambiguous as to whether these allergic reactions have been a result of the GE meat or the just the meat itself. The FDA has stated that, “genetically altered meat is safe, otherwise we would not release it to be sold to the public.” With a multitude of companies and organizations declaring various claims on this subject, and in turn contradicting each other, the answer to this paradox of consumer/animal safety still remains unclear.
Despite the opposing forces having different opinions on the GE safety debate, there is one thing that I am sure everyone can agree on and it is that the genetic modification of animals is a large advancement in the field of bioengineering. Not only are bioengineers now able to modify animals to their liking but this advancement has brought about the potentiality of numerous other scientific breakthroughs. Some GE projects that stem from the animal modification breakthrough include using animals to produce pharmaceuticals as well as using their organs, tissues, and cells that are similarly matched to humans’ and making use of them for transplants. These two specific projects are still in the early stages and have much troubleshooting to deal with, such as concocting pharmaceuticals that are 100% safe and matching the transplants organs precisely enough that they will not be rejected. Another lesser-conceived development in production is the construction of valuable materials from GE animals, like the materials used in surgical sutures and body armor for law enforcement agencies. All in all, it is evident that the genetic engineering of animals has brought forth a wide variety of development in the field of bioengineering.
Overall it is relevant to understand the significance of this biological breakthrough. Regardless of peoples’ stance on whether this process should take place or not, there is no denying there are many advantages for companies choosing to do this. Reinforced animal products alone are a large advantage, going along with animal hardiness and development. Not only is this development an aid with GE animals, it will also act as the origin for multiple other bioengineering breakthroughs. The support of the FDA concerning the safety of this matter, as well as other food safety companies also giving the go ahead, is a positive signal. Aside from a few minor cases that have not yet been proven, it is indicated that this food is safe, although some skeptics still persist. As far as the treatment of animals is concerned, it is conveyed by companies that animals are not being harmed, although nobody but the companies themselves know what occurs. In conclusion, the genetic modification of animals as food is a significant, advantageous, controversial, and well-earned milestone in the world of biological science.
