Japanese researchers have reported in Nature that they have successfully inserted the gene for green flourescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria into primates. Previous teams in the US have been successful in inserting genes into primates, but this is the first report of a genetic change in primates that is passed along to offspring.
Glowing Marmosets Pass the GFP Gene to Subsequent Generations
As we saw in a previous post, South Koreans successfully inserted a similar flourescing gene into beagles that was transmitted to subsequent generations, so I suppose it’s just a matter of time before this technique would be used in primates. The Japanese team, led by Erika Sasaki of Japan’s Central Institute for Experimental Animals developed 5 transgenic marmosets, including one pair of twins, from 91 embryos. Like the beagle experiment, the vast majority of the transgenic embryos do not develop.
Like the beagle research, the marmoset research might prove useful in providing animal models of human diseases such as Huntington’s disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease). But also like the beagle studies, the marmoset research has generated a great deal of discussion about the ethics of producing these animals. I like to tell students that this is why we do General Education–without an understanding of philosophy and history, how can we expect future leaders to handle these scientific breakthroughs in any kind of sensible way?
5 Comments
JoeGaldamez · May 29, 2009 at 2:02 pm
This is a very interesting and insightful blog. I, myself, am neutral towards this whole research. I see no direct unethical problem towards the monkeys, beagles, or fish at that, but what will happen in the future? Are we absolutely positive these animals will live an average, normal life? Are there any abnormalities they will suffer from? However, these animals might in the end provide more understanding of the human disease, such as Huntington’s Disease, and possibly deliver a cure. You’re absolutely right about the whole General Education idea though. Without them, many of our minds would be limited to a small span of knowledge.
jeffcurry · May 30, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Regardless of the ethics involved in animal research, this is an exciting new possibility in the realm of human gene therapy. The more and more successful these animal trials go, the closer we are getting to putting to rest some of the diseases you mentioned (ALS, Huntington’s Disease) as well as many others. I agree that without proper education, our leaders in the government will not make the right decision about how far the research should be allowed to go. In my opinion, the treatment of animals come secondary to the health and future of the human race.
ericabashaw · May 31, 2009 at 6:42 pm
This is exciting research! However, the possibilities of abuse and unethical decisions are always there. Indeed, at some point you need to make a judgment call and decide whether the possibility of finding a cure for a particular disease is worth possibly harming an animal. As JoeGaldamez said above, how can we be sure that these animals will live an “average, normal life?” As you point out, however, that is why we have General Education. Ethical issues are never easy, and we will (and must) continue to grapple with them.
SamanthaKapheim · June 2, 2009 at 12:22 am
The ability for the genetic change to be passed on to the offspring is undoubtedly a great breakthrough but the possibility of adverse effects should be carefully studied through multiple generations as they could be recessive traits.
hpetersen · December 2, 2009 at 9:08 pm
While I do agree with you guys about the exciting opportunities that this poses for possible research and cures for human diseases, I am very sympathetic to the ethics of animal testing as well. I think that research is important, but not at any price. This experiment seems harmless enough, so I do not have much of an issue with this particular research method, but the general subject of animal testing really bothers me. I believe that animals have rights, too, and I don’t think that the standard that researchers are held to in regards to this is issue is necessarily high enough sometimes.
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