Welfare aspects of transgenic animals

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The quality of animal models in biomedical research has significantly improved since the early 1980s, marked by the first successful microinjection of foreign DNA into mouse zygotes. New, well-defined animal models developed through microinjection and homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells are now widely available, replacing several classical models. Transgenic animals are also increasingly important in fields like livestock production and biopharming, highlighting the overwhelming potential benefits of this technology. Consequently, many research groups have embraced these advancements. However, these developments do not absolve us of our moral obligations toward animals. It is widely accepted that animal use is permissible only when the potential benefits of research outweigh the harmful effects on the animals involved. This raises critical questions about the nature of these harmful effects and the impact of transgenesis on animal well-being. To address these concerns, the European Commission (DGXII) has funded a 12-month project aimed at gathering information on the production and use of transgenic animals in EU Member States, focusing on the extent of specific welfare issues and whether studies on the incidence of such problems are being conducted.