Featured Media Resource: [VIDEO]: GMO Pets? (KQED QUEST)
With advances in technology, genetic engineering is becoming increasingly common, which may lead to a whole new market—GMO pets. This video outlines some of the ethical issues involved with genetically engineering animals for pets. What are the most important ethical considerations for you? What kind of regulations, if any, should be in place?
Do Now
Would you buy a genetically engineered pet? #DoNowGMOPets
How to Do Now
Do Now by posting your response on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Vine, Flickr, Google +, etc. Be sure to include @KQEDedspace and #DoNowGMOPets.
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Learn More About Genetically Engineering Animals
Photo by Lwp Kommunikáció @FlickrFinding the cutest and best-looking dog or cat is an important part of adopting a new furry friend. So imagine if you could genetically manipulate the traits of an animal to create the ideal pet! Right now, with the assistance of advanced gene modifying programs such as TALENS and CRISPR, genetically modified animals are becoming a reality. Recently, a genomics institute located in Shenzhen, China, called BGI, revealed their genetically modified “micro-pig,” which weigh about 30 pounds when mature. They intend to sell these micro-pigs for $1,600, and eventually BGI hopes that customers will be able to “order pigs with customized coat colors and patterns.” The company’s goal is to bring their genetic modifications to a higher level, potentially modifying dog and cat DNA. But no one knows what kind of medical issues will arise from tampering with the genes of an animal. With such little existing research and experience on genetically modifying animals, do we know if it is medically safe – or even ethical – to change a pet’s genome?
The Science
Photo by Miran Rijavec @FlickrCompared to past techniques, gene editing can be performed much more quickly and efficiently. The price of gene modification has decreased from tens of thousands of dollars to just hundreds of dollars, and these methods have been made public. In the field of genome modification, the two main methods of editing genes are TALENs and CRISPR. These two methods have revolutionized science, providing scientists the chance to conduct revolutionary research—and businesses to create new animal “products.”
The TALENs method uses specially coded enzymes called TALENs to split or cut out specific DNA segments and input new segments of DNA. The TALENs method is very effective because the enzymes can target specific sites where original DNA will be replaced by new segments, overall changing genes. In other words, this program will allow scientists to insert the preferred traits into the DNA of the subject. For example, scientists can replace the brown-eye DNA sequence with a blue-eye sequence, nearly guaranteeing that the animal will have blue eyes.
The other common technique for genome modification is called CRISPR (which stands for “Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats”). CRISPR is a natural, adaptive immunity used by select bacteria and archaea to defend against invasive genetic material. CRISPR uses a DNA-snipping enzyme called CAS9, which cuts out specific segments of DNA. Afterwards, new segments are inserted to fill the gaps, overall changing a select gene of a cell. This cell can then divide and multiply through mitosis, creating more cells with the desired traits.
The Debate
Photo by Maggie Bartlett @WikipediaThe truth is that humans been modifying animals for all of recorded history. Supporters of genetic modification argue that humanity has already been changing animals’ genes for thousands of years through selective breeding. When breeders perform selective breeding, allowing only offspring with the desired traits to reproduce, they are controlling the genes that appear in following generations. Is ordering a dog with specific traits from a breeder different than ordering a genetically modified one?
Opponents of genetically modified pets argue that they may negatively impact the environment if they are released into the wild. Similar to invasive species, GMO animals might outcompete native populations for resources and replace them. In addition, genetically modified animals might have unintended developmental or health issues. By modifying an animal’s gene, it’s hard to predict the longer term consequences of even a “minor” change like eye or fur color. Genetic modification could put our pets at risk.
So, would you buy a genetically customized pet? What do you think are the most important ethical considerations when it comes to genetically engineering animals? What guidelines or restrictions should be in place, if any?
More Resources
ARTICLE: Lighten Up, California: Why GloFish Can’t Glow in the Golden State (KQED QUEST)
This article by Dr. Barry Starr, of Tech Museum and Stanford University, outlines the debate over the use of GloFish in California. The state’s Fish and Game Commission decided in 2003 that GloFish were the result of a “trivial use for a powerful technology.”
VIDEO: Genome Editing with CRISPR-Cas9 (McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT)
This animation depicts the CRISPR-Cas9 method for genome editing – a powerful new technology with many applications in biomedical research, including the potential to treat human genetic disease.
VIDEO: Science Creates Glowing Kittens, Monkeys and Sheep! (Dtv)
DTV reports on the fluorescent protein that’s turning animals bioluminescent, and the implications it has for science.
REPORT: Brief Summary of Genetic Engineering and Animals (Michigan State University’s Animal Legal & Historical Center)
This research paper outlines the pros and cons of genetic engineering technology and its creation of and patenting of transgenic animal species.
BLOG: Warning: Genetically Modified Humans
(Scientific American, Guest Blog)
This blog piece by Zaria Gorvett, a British science graduate and aspiring science writer, calls for greater regulation of procedures such as pre-natal screening, and to exercise restraint in genetic engineering.
Do Next
Do Next takes the online conversation to the next level: these are suggestions for ways to go out into your community and investigate how the topic featured in this Do Now impacts people’s lives. Use digital storytelling tools and social media to share your story and take action. Make sure to tag your creations with #DoNowGMOPets.
1) Create an Infographic: Using a free online infographic tool such as piktochart or easel.ly, create a data visualization that illustrates the pros and cons of the ethical debate surrounding genetic engineering of animals.
2) Create a PSA: Using your smartphone and a free editing tool like WeVideo, make a 30-second PSA advocating either for or against allowing GMO pets into your local community pet stores.
3) Create a Meme: Using this KQED tutorial on using humorous memes to strengthen your argument, create a meme to express your position on GMO pets and share on social media.
KQED Education partners with phenomenal organizations to bring you the Science Do Now activities. The Science Do Now is posted every two weeks on Tuesday. This post was written by the following youth from the Science News Team within the California Academy of Sciences’ TechTeens program:
Alex B, Alvin S, Darrah B, Mathew L, Maggie Y, Ori L, and Sophie H
The TechTeens are youth leaders who use digital media to develop and communicate science stories for the public.
