In this activity, students explore different stakeholders’ perspectives on using transgenic cows to make medicines and weigh up the consequences, both benefits (pluses) and harms (minuses) in order to guide decision-making on this issue. The activity forms part of the unit plan Ethics of transgenic cows.
Purpose
Students discuss an ethical issue using a consequentialist ethical framework, which weighs up the benefits (pluses) and harms (minuses). This approach will encourage class discussion and help students to make an informed and justified decision on this ethical issue.
An update: changes in funding mean that AgResearch is no longer active in biomedical research projects. In its 2017 report to the EPA, AgResearch noted that it still has around 40 transgenic cows in its Waikato containment facility. Most of these cows are for casein and beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) research. Although some research mentioned in the transgenic cows story has ceased, the ethical issues involved in genetic modification of animals remain.
Keywords
Ethics, transgenics, consequences, harms, benefits, genetic modification.
