19 
Dr. Fox said he represents some quarter of a million members of the Humane 
Society and is "speaking for the animal kingdom. " Dr. Fax said interferring 
with animal genomes raises ethical issues. Nature, in her wisdom, may 
well have set up species barriers for a particular purpose, i.e., for 
managing natural ecosystems and their coevolution. 
Dr. Fax said just as there are multiple genetic detects in purebred dogs 
and cats as a consequence of selective breeding, use of recombinant DNA 
techniques may also jeopardize animal welfare. He said traditional breeding 
programs have produced animals with multiple inbred genetic defects, not 
for utilitarian purposes but for sheer esthetic reasons. 
Dr. Fox said selective breeding of high yield strains of farm animals 
results in a variety of so-called "production diseases:" lameness, 
osteoporosis, growth abnormalities, metabolic disorders affecting magnesium 
and calcium levels, and many other health problems. 
Dr. Fox said Dr. Brinster's idea is to create a pig or sheep that will grew 
twice as big, twice as fast. Dr. Fax asked what is saved if they will 
grow twice as big, twice as fast. He replied, "Time not food, because one 
never gets something for nothing." He contended Dr. Brinster's research 
has demonstrated that supplementation of dietary zinc is needed for the 
modified mice to grow normally. Dr. Fax said that before the need for 
zinc supplementation was discovered there was considerable animal suffering. 
Dr. Fax said we are on the point of turning animals into biological machines. 
He said Dr. Brinster stated that genes for valuable proteins could be 
introduced into animals, and the protein products harvested frem the blood 
or milk of these animals. Dr. Fox asked if modifying animals for this purpose 
is ethically and morally acceptable. He said the animal's soma will be 
modified if animals are made into biological machines; but "the psyche of 
the animal, its telos, its intrinsic nature" will not be affected. In such 
a situation, the mind of the animal may be trapped in a totally alien body. 
He asked RAC to address this issue. 
Dr. Fax said an environmental inpact assessment should be done if introduc- 
tion of genetically modified microorganisms into the intestines of animals 
is preposed. He also said that perhaps a person with veterinary or animal 
science expertise should be appointed to RAC. 
In regard to what mankind is going to do to the animal kingdom. Dr. Fax 
urged the committee to consider the word "dominion" which he said is not 
derived from the Latin word "domino, " to rule over, but from the Hebrew 
word "rache," to steward with compassion and understanding. 
Dr. Clcwes said RAC has received an impressive body of letters almost all 
epposing Mr. Rifkin's proposal. He asked the assembly's indulgence as he 
quoted from several letters. 
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