The Humane Society of the United States voices its grave concerns about subjecting sentient animals to commercial utilization through genetic engineering. We oppose this practice.

Given the current problem of companion animal homelessness, which costs millions of animals their lives and millions in public tax dollars each year, genetically engineering pets has no social value. Furthermore, commercial genetic engineering of animals reinforces the perception of animals as disposable, manufactured commodities. Genetic engineering of sentient beings erodes the morality of respect for the individual interests of others, a morality that is critical to the future well-being of both humans and animals.

Genetically engineering farm animals for food production also has no social value. Given industrial agriculture's preoccupation with increasing individual animal production many applications would undoubtedly be geared towards this objective. However, most major farm animal species have already been pushed to their production limits, which has resulted in widespread pain and suffering for farm animals. Furthermore, the human food supply is already inundated with excesses of animal products so it is difficult to justify the suffering involved in the genetic engineering of animals by touting an increase in animal production.

Another questionable genetic engineering application is the creation of animals dubbed "animal bioreactors" by the biotech industry, which uses them to produce pharmaceuticals and other proteins of interest. This has been called "pharming" and it is a mechanistic use of animals that seems to perpetuate the notion of their being merely tools for human use rather than sentient creatures. The most common procedure involves engineering goats, sheep, and cows so that the females or the female descendants of males produced express these pharmaceuticals in their milk. This can have detrimental effects for the animals beyond those that are discussed below if the proteins are expressed in other tissues. It may also lead to an increase in milking frequency of animals and a lengthening of the lactation period. Furthermore, pharming is of dubious value when there are often non-animal alternatives that can be used.

The creation of chimeras (organisms composed of cells from individuals of two or more species) involves serious ethical concerns that should be taken into consideration. Creation of chimeras contributes to the debasement of animals, as humankind manipulates nature by combining cells of an array of organisms. As far as current application of chimera research goes, The HSUS is concerned about pain and distress that the animals may undergo and calls on the research community to carefully address the welfare of these animals and to minimize any pain and distress resulting from this type of animal use.

One aspect of chimera research is its use for potential whole organ xenotransplantation, for example the transplantation of animal organs into people. The HSUS is opposed to this research because of its serious ethical, social, public health and animal welfare implications. A multi-pronged approach to address the existing organ shortage would obviate the need for the use of animals in xenotransplantation altogether.

Genetically engineered animals are as sensitive to physical and psychological suffering as are other animals and our moral responsibility toward them is no less. Genetically engineering animals will increase their suffering by:

• Producing a wide range of unintended and unforeseen consequences, many of which remain unknown. These conditions are largely untreatable and can result in pain, distress, suffering, premature death and behavior problems. Most genetically engineered animals die as embryos and there are few survivors. Offspring of the few survivors can also suffer from unforeseen complications.

• Facilitating the exploitation of animals as organ donors.

• Facilitating the replication of sick animals with often devastating symptoms, disabled by genetic manipulation for use as models of human disease.

• Accelerating the intensification of animal production (or factory farming), as genetically altered individuals are used as production "machines," increasing already excessive yields and existing welfare problems.

• Subjecting animals used in the genetic engineering process, such as surrogate mothers, to often painful and distressing invasive procedures, such as repeated cesareans.

• Creating serious ramifications for wildlife if genetically engineered animals escape into the wild.

Genetic engineering gives researchers an almost limitless increase in power and control over an animal's genetic makeup, but because the process is not well understood, it often results in unpredictable occurrences. What can be done with genetic engineering far surpasses what researchers can know and predict. It is intensifying our use of animals both in numbers and the manner in which they can be used, with the potential for considerable pain and suffering, at a time when there is an expanding social ethic demanding greater consideration for animals. However, this research is continuing virtually unchecked, without the development and utilization of proper tools to even assess the welfare of the animals—almost guaranteeing that pain, distress and suffering will not be alleviated in a potentially large number of cases.

Genetically engineering sentient beings raises many important and unaddressed ethical questions. The HSUS argues that the public is entitled to a full review of all ramifications of genetically engineering animals, that animal welfare must be part of that review, and that the exclusion of the legitimate moral interests of individual animals from public discussion of this technology is unacceptable.