Animal Biotechnology: Science-Based Concerns

Genetic-based animal biotechnology has produced new food and pharmaceutical products and promises many more advances to benefit humankind. These exciting prospects are accompanied by considerable unease, however, about matters such as safety and ethics. This book identifies science-based and policy-related concerns about animal biotechnologyâ€"key issues that must be resolved before the new breakthroughs can reach their potential.

The book includes a short history of the field and provides understandable definitions of terms like cloning. Looking at technologies on the near horizon, the authors discuss what we know and what we fear about their effectsâ€"the inadvertent release of dangerous microorganisms, the safety of products derived from biotechnology, the impact of genetically engineered animals on their environment. In addition to these concerns, the book explores animal welfare concerns, and our societal and institutional capacity to manage and regulate the technology and its products. This accessible volume will be important to everyone interested in the implications of the use of animal biotechnology.

• Front Matter
• Executive Summary
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Applications of Biotechnology Techniques
• 3. Animals Engineered for Human Health Purposes
• 4. Food Safety Concerns
• 5. Environmental Concerns
• 6. Animal Health and Welfare
• 7. Concerns Related to Scientific Uncertainty, Policy Context, Institutional Capacity, and Social Implications
• References
• Glossary
• Appendix A: Workshop Agenda
• Appendix B: Regulatory Framework for Animal Biotechnology
• About the Authors
• Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources Publications
• Index