TWN Info Service on Biosafety
20 May 2025
Third World Network
www.twn.my
Dear Friends and Colleagues
Risks of Using New Genomic Techniques on Farm Animals
A recent report examines new genetic engineering or genomic techniques (NGTs) that are used to bring about genetic changes in vertebrates, concluding that they risk affecting areas such as animal welfare, animal health, animal breeding, the environment and consumer protection.
NGTs can be used to induce previously unknown mutations and new gene combinations which are very unlikely to be achieved with other methods. However, the risks associated with NGT applications in livestock can result both from the NGT processes (unintended effects) or their intended outcomes (desired traits).
NGT processes are very often associated with the use of large numbers of animals and additional animal suffering. For example, numerous NGT applications aim to induce excessive muscle growth despite it causing serious animal welfare problems. Risks to the environment include uncontrolled spread in the environment of NGT fish that would jeopardise natural populations, or the spread of specific pathogens. Risks to human health are another concern: genetic engineering can change the composition of the ingredients in food obtained from NGT animals, and may also include the occurrence of new ingredients.
As such, the report calls for thorough analysis of intended and unintended effects of new gene variants that have not previously occurred in conventional breeding. It recommends that high hurdles for NGT applications and their commercialization be set, especially in regard to animal protection, animal welfare and animal health. Patents covering the genetic engineering of animals for food production should also be prohibited.
With best wishes,
Third World Network
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Item 1
Press Release
NEW GENETIC ENGINEERING IN LIVESTOCK: A CRITICAL REVIEW
Testbiotech
https://www.testbiotech.org/en/news/new-genetic-engineering-in-livestock-a-critical-review/
18 March 2025
Testbiotech is publishing a report today on the application of new genetic engineering (or new genomic techniques, NGTs) in vertebrates used for the production of food. The special focus of this report is on the protection of animals, health and the environment. The report is a contribution to ongoing discussions in regard to the future regulation and risk assessment of NGT animals.
New genetic engineering can be used to bring about genetic changes in vertebrates that go beyond what is currently possible, or might be expected, from applying conventional breeding methods. This technical potential of NGTs also raises crucial questions about specific risks affecting areas such as animal welfare, animal health, animal breeding, the environment and consumer protection.
Numerous of these NGT applications aim to induce excessive muscle growth. Despite it is known from conventional breeding of cattle that this trait causes serious animal welfare problems, many experiments have been conducted with species such as cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits, fish, horses and dogs. Many other applications are also ethically questionable: for example, the escape reaction of NGT tuna was manipulated in order to better adapt them to industrial factory farming in aquacultures.
Regardless of the goals being pursued, the procedures are often associated with additional animal losses and animal suffering. Furthermore, it is essential that NGT animals are adequately tested for risks to stop genetic defects from potentially spreading rapidly throughout animal populations. One well-known example is hornless cattle, where it was initially overlooked that the DNA of bacteria, including resistance to antibiotics, was transferred into the genome of the NGT cattle.
The research shows that all NGT animals must be thoroughly examined for intentional and unintentional effects in order to adequately protect the environment, consumers, food production, agriculture and breeding.
To the opinion of Testbiotech, the legislator should set a very high bar for the approval of NGT animals. Patents on the genetic modification of animals for the purpose of food production should be prohibited. Inadequate regulation of NGT animals will result in an increase in the number of animal experiments, animal losses and animal suffering, all driven by questionable interests and prospects in financial gain.
Contact:
Christoph Then, info@testbiotech.org, Tel + 49 151 54638040
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Item 2
USE OF GENETIC ENGINEERING IN FARMED VERTEBRATES: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT
By Andreas Bauer-Panskus, Matthias Juhas und Christoph Then
Testbiotech
testbiotech.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NGT-Livestock.pdf
March 2025
Summary
This report provides a critical assessment of new genetic engineering (new genomic techniques, NGTs) applications in vertebrates. It focusses, in particular, on animals used in food production and concentrates on the protection of animals, humans and the environment.
Differences in breeding
NGTs can be used to achieve genetic changes in vertebrates that go beyond what is possible or could be expected in conventional breeding. In vertebrates used for breeding purposes, new genetic characteristics primarily result from crossing and selection. However, the recombination (‘crossing over’) or mutation frequency is very unevenly distributed in the genome of vertebrates, and thus severely limits conventional breeding outcomes. The mechanisms limiting the occurrence of new genetic variants can be seen as a kind of barrier established by the cells which contribute to the protection of animal health.
Many mutations which occur due to faulty processes during cell division are naturally repaired by the cells in such a way that the gene function is maintained. At the same time, many gene regions are considered to be highly conserved which means that new biologically effective gene variants are rarely observed here.
The processes of new genetic engineering (NGT) make the animal genome available for genetic changes to a much greater extent because it interferes with the natural processes in the cells and changes the probability of mutations to occur at specific sites in the genome. One reason: NGTs can hamper the natural repair processes in the cells. Thereby, NGTs can be used to induce previously unknown mutations and new gene combinations which are very unlikely to be achieved with other methods. The technical potential of NGTs, therefore, obviously raises questions about specific risks.
Risks
The risks associated with NGT applications in livestock can result both from the NGT processes (unintended effects) or their intended outcomes (desired traits). This can affect various aspects of including animal protection, animal welfare, animal health, animal breeding, the environment and also risks for consumers. It should be noted that compared to plants, animals have a much lower tolerance to newly occurring mutations, regardless of whether these are caused intentionally or unintentionally.
Animal welfare
Irrespective of the intended traits, the NGT processes, are very often associated with the use of large numbers of animals and additional animal suffering. This is because they make use of, e.g. surrogate mothers, cloning procedures, the birth of NGT animals with unwanted genetic changes, epigenetic disorders and/or genetic mosaic formation (different tissues exhibit different genetic variants). One well known example are hornless cattle where genetic defects caused by NGTs were overlooked and resulted in the animals having to be slaughtered. In addition, NGT effects can easily cause pain and suffering if, for example, the animals are exposed to chronic stress due to increased fattening or milk yield – which can, in turn, result in greater susceptibility to disease or other health issues. There are also many ethically dubious applications. One drastic example is NGT tuna in which the transfer of signalling stimuli required to trigger muscle contraction is blocked which makes them better suited to industrial factory farming in aquaculture.
Animal health
The myostatin gene is probably the most commonly targeted gene in NGT livestock. This is a cause for concern, since the desired breeding traits (excessive muscle growth and increased economic yield) can impact animal health. Various side effects relevant to animal welfare, such as birthing difficulties or skeletal deformities, have already been documented. It should also be noted that the myostatin gene influences several metabolic pathways and the pleiotropic effects that may occur can vary from species to species. The NGT animals will probably also experience negative effects on their health which do not result directly from excessive muscle growth. Blocking the myostatin gene is just one example of ethically dubious NGT projects aimed at increasing performance in farm animals.
Animal husbandry and agriculture
The use of modern breeding methods (such as artificial insemination) can very quickly lead to the spread of genetic defects in breeding populations. A very cautious approach is therefore required in regard to the intended and unintended NGT effects in order to protect the interests of animal breeding, agriculture and food production. One example is NGT cattle with modified haircoats. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that in NGT cattle with thinner coats (SLICK) the gene variant did not correspond to the already known natural gene variant, and thus caused undesirable changes in the genome. The FDA nevertheless granted authorisation as they believed it was unlikely that this would be a risk to consumers. According to Testbiotech, however, this does not necessarily mean that there are no risks in animal breeding.
Environment
Amongst other things, there is a risk that NGT fish could spread uncontrolled in the environment and jeopardise natural populations. Other risks to the environment include the spread of specific pathogens, which would not otherwise be expected to occur, e.g. via faeces. In addition, many applications may enable a significantly higher intensity of animal husbandry, which may be associated with higher environmental pollution.
Consumers and food producers
Risks to human health must also be examined in detail: genetic engineering can change the composition of the ingredients in food obtained from NGT animals, and may also include the occurrence of new ingredients. NGT animals with (unintentionally) weakened immunity may favor the transmission of pathogens. There is also a risk that NGT animals that have been engineered to be resistant to viruses can become a reservoir for pathogens, which can arise through adaptation. Consumers may also consider the consumption of certain NGT products as ethically problematic and, therefore, be reluctant to buy any such products. This represents a certain economic risk for the producers.
Patents
In the period from 2020-2024, an increasing number of international patent applications were filed for genetically engineered vertebrates intended for use in food production. Most of these were for fish, followed by poultry, pigs and ruminants. The objectives are further development of NGT processes, changes in reproductive capacity, increased yield and resistance to pathogens. These kinds of patent applications are expected to further increase in number. Examples for the traits claimed in the patents are animals with enhanced muscle growth, faster fattening and also fish without intermuscular bones. It is alarming that the economic interests behind these patents may lead to an increase in the number of animal experiments as well as increased suffering, pain and a reduction in animal welfare.
Regulation
New gene variants that have not previously occurred in conventional breeding should be thoroughly analysed for intended and unintended effects in order to adequately protect the environment, consumers, food production, agriculture and breeding. The legislator should also set high hurdles for NGT applications and their commercialisation, especially in regard to animal protection, animal welfare and animal health. Patents covering the genetic engineering of animals for food production should be unequivocally prohibited. If not, there is a risk of greatly increased suffering, pain and reducing animal welfare due to economic expectations.