ABSTRACT

Homo sapiens sapiens is an animal morale. By implication, any human activity can be seen from a moral point of view. Public concern about animal biotechnology is a complex phenomenon. There is much discussion about the definition and measurement of animal welfare. Looking back to the moral arguments about animal transgenesis in public debate, it may be clear that they often partly overlap each other. The idea behind it is that (a specific proposal for) animal transgenesis is only morally acceptable when an independent group of people, in which public concern is represented, can be convinced by good arguments of its necessity. Science and technology are not confined within national borders, but they are a global affair. In the light of the (expected) impact of biotechnology it might even be useful to think of an international convention, in which various aspects of genetic modification (even patenting) could be dealt with.