Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39692298›Full record

ArticleAJOB empirical bioethics

Enhancing Animals is "Still Genetics": Perspectives of Genome Scientists and Policymakers on Animal and Human Enhancement.

Rebecca L Walker, Zachary Ferguson, Logan Mitchell, Margaret Waltz

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in AJOB empirical bioethics. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Rebecca L WalkerDepartment of Philosophy, Department of Social Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3789-3992
Zachary FergusonDepartment of Philosophy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Logan MitchellDepartment of Philosophy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Margaret WaltzDepartment of Social Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-2582-145X

Funding

Incidental Enhancement: Addressing a Neglected Policy Issue in Human Genome EditingR01HG010661 · NHGRI · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI CADIGAN, ROSEMARY JEAN · 2020 to 2023
$3.1M
NHGRI NIH HHS R01 HG010661
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNonhuman animals are regularly enhanced genomically with CRISPR and other gene editing tools as scientists aim at better models for biomedical research, more tractable agricultural animals, or animals that are otherwise well suited to a defined purpose. This study investigated how genome editors and policymakers perceived ethical or policy benefits and drawbacks for animal enhancement and how perceived benefits and drawbacks are alike, or differ from, those for human genome editing.

methodsWe identified scientists through relevant literature searches as well as conference presentations. Policymakers were identified through rosters of genome editing oversight groups (e.g., International Commission on the Clinical Use of Human Germline Genome Editing, World Health Organization) or efforts aimed at influencing policy (e.g., deliberative democracy groups). Interviews covered participants' views on ethical differences between interventions affecting somatic or germline cells and distinctions between using gene editing for disease treatment, prevention, and enhancement purposes.

resultsOf the 92 participants interviewed, 81 were genome editing scientists, and 33 were policymakers, with 22 interviewees being both scientists and policymakers. Multiple areas were identified in which the ethical implications of genomic enhancements for nonhuman animals differ from those for human animals including with respect to experiential welfare; germline edits; environmental sustainability; and justice.

conclusionsOverall, respondents viewed that animal enhancement is unburdened by the ethical complexities of human enhancement. These views may be related to participant perceptions of animals' lesser moral status and because germline editing in animals is common practice.

Indexed as

Gene EditingAnimalsAnimals, Genetically ModifiedAnimal WelfareCRISPR-Cas SystemsGenomeHumansPolicy MakingResearch Personnelanimal moral statusanimal welfareenhancementGene editinggermline editing

Identifiers

PMID39692298
PMCPMC12048263

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.