Many traits are significantly influenced by genetic factors. Genetic modification is nothing new – humans have been selectively breeding animals and plants for thousands of years. However, recent developments like CRISPR gene editing (also known as “genome editing”) and gene drives – as well as the potential of AI to accelerate further research – raise pressing questions about genetic interventions to improve welfare. As the technology advances, the question is rapidly evolving from whether we can to whether we should. Sooner than we think, we may be asking ourselves whether it’s permissible not to use these powerful tools to alleviate suffering. To this end, it is essential to start by understanding the risks, and how to weigh a genetic fix against other welfare-enhancing approaches.
🧩 Central questions
- Advances in genetic modification: How do the different major techniques of genetic modification work, and what are their advantages and disadvantages?
- Direct vs. indirect welfare enhancement: What is the ethical difference between creating a hornless cow to prevent dehorning (an indirect welfare improvement) and specifically editing an animal’s capacity to feel pain (a direct welfare improvement)?
- Genetic vs. non-genetic welfare enhancement: Which considerations favour genetic welfare enhancements over non-genetic welfare enhancements (e.g. changing the conditions of factory farming; food system transformation)?
- The ethical gradient: What key considerations govern the acceptability of genetic editing across farmed animals, wild animals, and humans?
- The ultimate goal: Is the “abolition of suffering” a desirable (or feasible) long-term goal? How might such efforts backfire?
🧭 Learning objectives
- Understand: Explain in basic terms how both genetic and environmental factors contribute to trait development in sexually reproducing organisms, and compare and contrast major methods of genetic modification, including selective breeding, somatic vs. germline gene editing, and gene drives.
- Assess: Critically interrogate personal intuitions and apprehensions about genetic welfare enhancement. Evaluate core ethical arguments for and against genetic interventions across different animal populations (e.g. farmed, wild).
- Reason: Develop a principled stance on the most promising and hazardous applications of gene editing in animals. Compare and contrast genetic vs. non-genetic approaches to welfare enhancement.
- Next steps: Identify key organizations, contacts, and areas for further investigation into genetic welfare.
Use the table of contents on the right to quickly navigate this page.
Resources
Required readings
Further reading (optional)
Pre-session exercises
Please spend 20-30 minutes completing these two exercises.
- You can write your responses in bullet point format if that’s easier.
- Submit your responses in the weekly Slack thread created by your facilitator in your channel at least 24 hours before your regularly scheduled meeting.
- Leave at least one comment on somebody else’s response.
Case studies in animal genetic editing
[150 words] Research and find an example of an animal genetic intervention (e.g., a news article, a research publication, a website, blog or forum post, etc.). Be prepared to present your example in small groups, explaining:
- What is the animal and the welfare problem?
- What is the proposed genetic solution? (e.g. engineering cattle to grow shorter hair so that they can withstand hotter climates)
- What are the welfare enhancements? (e.g. for disease resistance: less suffering from illness, side effects of antibiotics)
- What are the non-welfare enhancements, if any? (e.g. for disease resistance: decreased antibiotic use, decreased mortality/morbidity)
- What might be some alternative solutions to this welfare problem? (e.g. non-genetic welfare enhancements, or genetic approaches not using editing, such as selective breeding)
Remember: Not all genetic interventions are welfare-positive. You can choose to present an intervention that does not necessarily decrease animal suffering.
Not sure where to start? Check out the above section Week 5: A World Without Suffering? The Genetic Welfare Frontier - Genetic modification in animals. You can also check the readings for links or citations. Focus on what interests you the most!
Stress-testing the argument for genetic welfare enhancement
[150 words] Review Shriver’s argument from Week 5: A World Without Suffering? The Genetic Welfare Frontier - Knocking Out Pain in Livestock: Can Technology Succeed Where Morality has Stalled? (available open access here) (also copied below). Then, do two of the following:
- Choose one premise which you strongly agree or disagree with and explain why.
- Identify a consideration which the author may have overlooked and justify its importance.
- Identify the premise which you think is most controversial or uncertain and explain why.
