The biotechnology sector is expanding rapidly. With genetic manipulation, cloning, xenografts (transplants of animal organs into humans) and cross-gene animals, laboratories are matching their ingenuity to their resources. How far can we go in altering or modifying the genetic composition of live organisms? Very far, if we believe the results of research carried out in this area for medical or commercial purposes. And this ignores any moral rules or respect for nature and animals.

Profit in the firing line
The suffering brought by these experiments cause extreme and often irreversible pain: tumours, malformations, cranial or skeleton deformities, sterility, arthritis or diabetes. In addition to ignoring the most fundamental animal rights, these experiments produce "monsters”, such as chickens with four thighs, huge salmons, flies with eyes in their feet, and so on. And to what end? While progress in human health is certainly possible, we can only see that the profit that can be made from them is in the firing line. Some companies rush to patent their “invention” as if these sensitive beings were no more than machines, and the economic interest in profitable “animals" or “plants” is clear.

The risks for man
However, is it really in man’s interests to choose a living being for profit? Does this not threaten our safety? The only certainty at the moment is that the consequences of introducing animal and plant GMOs (genetically modified organisms) into the environment are unknown. In addition to organ rejection in the case of xenografts, the risk of infection in humans by endogenous monkey or pig viruses and retroviruses migrating in the body are clear. This risk factor lead the Council of Europe to vote for a moratorium on xenografts on 29th January 1999 to define a certain level of ethics in using biotechnologies.

Precaution principle
In the current state of affairs, ONE VOICE is campaigning for a good conduct code in the use of biotechnologies and is encouraging all of us citizens-consumers to use our personal “precaution principle” every time that life, whether human or animal, may be in danger.

“It is easy to understand that the still huge gap between mice (commonly-used laboratory animals) and humans invalidates attempted research for medicines and therapies. It is not surprising that over 20 years of research into cross-gene mice, which have cost taxpayers millions of dollars, have not produced any treatments or remedies”.
(cf. TEST TUBES WITH TAILS, The Scientist, Vol 16, No. 3, pages 22-24)

A few examples of current experiments :

For medical purposes
- Humanised mice to see how prion, which is the source of mad cow’s disease, can infect humans ;
- Flies modified using mouse genes which cause them to grow eyes on their feet ;
- Farm animals that secrete proteins used in the pharmaceutical industry following the addition of foreign genes (most often human genes) ;
- Heart valves from humanised pigs ;
- Corn developed using scorpion genes ;
- Rat’s heart “resuscitated” three days after its death by adding embryo cells ;
- Pigs with glowing snouts, etc.

For commercial purposes
- Chicken with four thighs, pigs with four gammon legs ;
- Chicken without feathers ;
- Salmon that puts on weight ten times as quickly, etc.