动物基因编辑的若干伦理问题及其治理

Ethical Issues and Its Governance in Animal Gene Editing

我国学界对人类基因编辑的伦理问题研究较多,而对动物基因编辑的伦理问题缺乏应有的关注。目前人们已经在农业和医学领域对动物进行基因编辑,在其他领域也有动物基因编辑的尝试。进行动物基因编辑可以带来许多利益。例如,在农业领域,对动物进行基因编辑可以提高其肉、奶、毛的产量和品质,或提高动物的抗病性;在医学领域,对实验动物进行基因编辑可以制备疾病动物模型,或培养供人类移植的备份器官。此外,科学家还可以通过基因编辑来定制宠物,或提升工作动物的功能,或提高指标动物对环境的敏感性,等等。但是,动物基因编辑也带来许多伦理问题,从非人类中心主义视角看,动物基因编辑关乎动物福利和动物权利等伦理问题;从人类中心主义视角看,动物基因编辑关系到人类福祉和个人权利问题,其中包括食品安全、经济效益、知情权利、分配公正、物种多样性、环境保护、生态平衡等伦理问题。因此,人们在进行动物基因编辑时应制定或遵循相应的伦理原则,并采取恰当的治理措施。

There are many studies on the ethical issues of human gene editing in Chinese academic circles, but there is a lack of due attention to the ethical issues of animal gene editing. At present, people have had animal genes editing in the fields of agriculture and medicine, and there are also attempts in other fields. Animal gene editing can bring many benefits. For example, gene editing of farm animals in the agricultural field can increase the yield and quality of meat, milk and fur of animals by genetic breeding, or improve the disease resistance of animals. Gene editing of experimental animals in the medical field can prepare experimental animal models of diseases, or cultivate backup organs for human transplantation. In addition, pets can also be customized by gene editing, and the functions of working animals can be improved, the sensitivity of indicator animals to the environment can be improved by animal gene editing. However, animal gene editing also brings a series of ethical issues. From the perspective of non-anthropocentrism, animal gene editing is related to ethical issues such as animal welfare and animal rights;From the perspective of anthropocentrism, animal gene editing is related to human well-being and individual rights, including food safety, economic benefits, the right of informed consent, justice of distribution, species diversity, environmental protection, ecological balance and other ethical issues. Therefore, people should formulate or follow corresponding ethical principles and take appropriate governance measures when conducting to animal gene editing.