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Equine veterinary education2016; 30(5); 268-273; doi: 10.1111/eve.12566

Is cloning horses ethical?

Abstract: This paper assesses whether cloning horses is ethical by reviewing ethical arguments against cloning of nonequine species and determining whether they apply to horses, analysing ethical arguments about horse cloning which do not apply to noncompetitive species and considering the ethical dilemmas faced by veterinarians involved in horse cloning. The author concludes that concerns about the health and welfare of cloned horses render the technique ethically problematic and that the onus is on those providing commercial equine cloning services to collate data and provide a stronger evidence base for ethical decision-making.
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Publication Date: 2016-03-07 PubMed ID: 29937631PubMed Central: PMC5993314DOI: 10.1111/eve.12566Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article examines the ethical implications of cloning horses, comparing these to ethical arguments related to the cloning of non-equine species and assessing the issues asserted by veterinarians in the field. Concerns are raised regarding the welfare of cloned horses, concluding that more evidence is required from commercial equine cloning services to solidify decision-making around the ethics of this practice.

Analysis of Ethical Arguments Against Cloning of Nonequine Species

  • The article begins by looking into the ethical issues surrounding cloning of non-equine species. This is carried out in order to draw parallels or contrasts to horse cloning.
  • An important focal point of this discussion is whether the ethical concerns associated with non-equine cloning, such as animal health and welfare, are equally relevant in the case of equine cloning.

Comparison with Ethical Arguments Against Horse Cloning

  • The article then shifts to detailing the ethical arguments specific to horse cloning, particularly those that don’t apply to noncompetive species.
  • Factors such as health considerations, psychological impact on the horse, and the commercialized nature of horse cloning form significant elements of this discussion.

Veterinary Dilemmas in Horse Cloning

  • This part of the study scrutinizes the dilemmas faced by veterinarians involved in the process of horse cloning.
  • The author assesses the ethical and practical challenges veterinarians have to deal with, including potential health risks to the cloned horses, and the responsibility of ensuring the welfare of these animals.

The Need for More Data

  • The paper maintains that the responsibility of ensuring ethical practice in horse cloning lies with those providing commercial equine cloning services.
  • This involves the requirement to collect and provide more data to support discussions on the ethical considerations and to guide and inform decision-making.

Conclusion

  • Ultimately, the author concludes that due to the health and welfare concerns for cloned horses, cloning is ethically problematic.
  • However, the onus is on the commercial equine cloning services to gather more data and provide a stronger basis for ethical decisions and future debates on the subject.

Cite This Article

APA
Campbell MLH. (2016). Is cloning horses ethical? Equine Vet Educ, 30(5), 268-273. https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.12566

Publication

Equine veterinary education
ISSN: 0957-7734
NlmUniqueID: 9885274
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 30
Issue: 5
Pages: 268-273

Researcher Affiliations

Campbell, M L H
  • Department of Production and Population Health The Royal Veterinary College North Mymms Herts UK.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Quain A, Ward MP, Mullan S. What Would You Do? Types of Ethical Challenging Situations Depicted in Vignettes Published in the Veterinary Literature from 1990 to 2020. Vet Sci 2021 Dec 22;9(1).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci9010002pubmed: 35051086google scholar: lookup
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