The ethics of using transgenic non-human primates to study what makes us human

Abstract

An ongoing flood of comparative genomic data is identifying human lineage specific (HLS) sequences of unknown function, and there is strong interest in investigating their functional effects. Transgenic apes, our closest evolutionary relative, have the highest potential to express HLS sequences as they are expressed in Homo sapiens and likewise experience harm from such transgenic research. These harms render the conduct of this research ethically unacceptable in apes, justifying regulatory barriers between these species and all other non-human primates for transgenic research.

I'll be a monkey's uncle: a moral challenge to human genetic enhancement research

“…Now we have a number of chimps that are much smarter than the non-enhanced animals, exactly the grim scenario foreseen by Coors and colleagues 23. I suppose it is possible that such cognitively enhanced animals would recover from the enhancement procedure (whatever that may be) and immediately start ‘acting human’, but that is unlikely to be the case.…”

“…An important objection has been raised to using non-human primates (and, in particular, the great apes) in this particular form of preclinical testing, especially with large blocks of human DNA 23. While these authors do not consider the transfer or replacement of specific ‘intelligence genes’ in non-human primates, they are concerned more generally about the implantation of other ‘human lineage-specific sequences’ that could lead to a ‘transgenic chimpanzee that, although no more self-aware than other chimpanzees, is hairless, walks erect, lacks long canine teeth or vocalizes like a human’ (p. 660) 23.…”

“…While these authors do not consider the transfer or replacement of specific ‘intelligence genes’ in non-human primates, they are concerned more generally about the implantation of other ‘human lineage-specific sequences’ that could lead to a ‘transgenic chimpanzee that, although no more self-aware than other chimpanzees, is hairless, walks erect, lacks long canine teeth or vocalizes like a human’ (p. 660) 23. The authors' fear is that such transgenic animals could end up being freaks of nature, ostracised from their (former) peers, or rendered ‘human enough’ to have something approaching self-consciousness or at least the capacity to suffer and appreciate their suffering in such a manner that would not be tolerable.…”

“…The authors' fear is that such transgenic animals could end up being freaks of nature, ostracised from their (former) peers, or rendered ‘human enough’ to have something approaching self-consciousness or at least the capacity to suffer and appreciate their suffering in such a manner that would not be tolerable. Coors et al 23 urge either extreme caution or would even forbid such research on the basis of the harm that could potentially be caused to the subjects of the experiments. While I agree with their careful ethical analysis, and I certainly appreciate the theoretical harms they prophesy, I am reasonably confident that if the forces propelling enhancement research forward are of sufficient strength, they will override any objections of this nature.…”

Ethics in Animal-Based Research

“…This aspect can be illustrated by the example of transgene animals for experimentation, i.e. those which are modified using genetic engineering [18,47,48,49,50,51]. The central question here is the moral permissibility of modifying animals through genetic engineering - the aforementioned question arises from several fundamental issues (impermissible interference with nature, instrumentalisation of living creatures), but also in view of possible disadvantages which the animals in question might experience as a result (manipulation of the animal's essential being, negative influences on the animal's well-being or furthering of its suffering, possible development of disease and/or shortening of lifespan etc.…”