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News and comment on genetically modified foods and their associated pesticides    
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New genetic engineering in livestock: A critical review

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Published: 19 March 2025
Twitter

All "new GM" animals must be examined for intended and unintended effects to protect animals, health and nature – Testbiotech

Testbiotech has published a report 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.

Testbiotech says: "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."

Testbiotech concludes, "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."

Further information

The report on NGT animals

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