Is it acceptable to create transgenic animals as a source for xenotransplants?
1. Is it acceptable to use animals as sources of live organs and tissue for transplantation into human beings? Xenotransplantation will lead to the breeding and killing of animals1 to provide organs for humans. Is it acceptable to use animals in this way? People tend to respond in the following ways to the issues raised by this question: • Some people believe it is acceptable to use animals for any purpose. • Others have strong moral convictions against using animals for any purpose, no matter how humans might benefit. • Finally, many people believe it would be okay to use animals if the benefits to humans are important and if the animals are properly cared for. Many societies currently use animals for: • biomedical research • medical purposes (for example, as a source of heart valves or insulin) • food, and • clothing. But people increasingly object to using animals for such purposes as the testing of cosmetics or for entertainment. The way people feel about using animals for xenotran
