Genome-edited livestock: Ethics and social acceptance

Abstract

• With the advent of robust genome editing tools, strains of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and fowls with no transgenes have been bred. • Food products derived from genome-edited livestock are expected to enter the market soon after the safety is confirmed in a country. However, previous controversy over genetically modified (GM) animals and cloned animals suggests that many people will be unlikely to accept the products from genome-edited animals. • The social acceptance of such farm animal products would depend on the major premise that animal breeding by genome editing is performed after due considerations with regard to people's sense of ethics as well as animal welfare.