Pigs Could Find Cure to Cystic Fibrosis
By now you may have heard that scientists from the University of Iowa and University of Missouri , in a joint venture funded by the NIH and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, have successfully created a breed of pigs that has been genetically engineered to have cystic fibrosis.
This is good news for the scientific community, because pig bodies are very similar to human bodies. Cystic fibrosis affects pigs in the same way it affects people. Up until now, most animal studies of cystic fibrosis have involved mice, which do not experience CF in the same way people do. Now, with the pig models, researchers can create common complications of the disease and experiment in ways that were never possible with mice.
As good as the news is for science, there is also a lot of buzz from animal-rights advocates who feel that it is wrong to intentionally inflict disease on pigs and then conduct experiments that could cause the animals to suffer. Read what Doris Lin, the Guide to Animal Rights has to say about the issue.
What do you think?
Did you know that pigs already play an important role in cystic fibrosis treatment? Without pigs, we would not have pancreatic enzyme replacements, which most people with cystic fibrosis must take several times per day.
Read more about pancreatic enzymes
Comments
I feel guilty about it, but I think the pigs should be used. I thought about it yes no yes no, but then I realized if my child had cystic fibrosis and a pig could save them there would be no way PETA would stop me from trying to save my child.
I gave this some thought. I would never intentionally cause suffering to some other creature for selfish reasons. When thinking about should my child be involved, it becomes more difficult, but I eventually came to the same conclusion. Cause no harm.
I think if we can raise animals for food, we can raise them for scientific purposes, too. That is why I voted yes.
Gosh, what a thought provoking question…it really made me stop and think. Even though I love pigs I also know a child with CF so fir me it was a no-brainer in the end.
God gave us the animals, and God gave us the science needed to help find a cure for CF. If you know anyone who has CF, you wouldn’t think twice.
I would choose my child over a pig, but I would also choose my child over my next door neighbor. That doesn’t give me the moral right to perform medical experiments on my neighbor. I voted “no.”
As a scientist I see alot worse experiments done with animals than a pig model of cystic fibrosis. We need to see exactly what is happening in the lungs of cf patients. We are not killing the pigs, they just have the disease is all. Has anyone seen a person die with this disease, why it is called “The Horror”. When you do I think you will change your mind rather quickly!
David, would you change your mind if the pigs were killed by the researchers? If death from CF is “The Horror” and if the pigs are not killed by the researchers, aren’t the pigs going to die from “The Horror”?
i would sacrifice my self let alone a pig for my daughter to not have to eventually die from this disease, every day parents and the sufferers with this horrible cruel disease pray that a cure will come along and if the answers come in the form of a pig then so be it! the sooner the better
We use mice for testing. We eat pigs. If one person can die and save millions of lives, kind of as christians believe Jesus did, is it worth it? My fiance was born with cystic fibrosis. Doctors have given her an estimated five years tops. In my opinion a few pigs could maybe save millions. Is that not worth it? Noone wants to lose the one they love. I’m included in that. If a man throws himself on a grenade and saves his comrades is he not held as a hero? These pigs could very well be our “heroes”. So I proudly say yes, I support the decision to possibly find a cure. I am researching it myself to maybe find something out in hopes of finding a cure. If anyone has any websites, findings, information, etc. that may help, please text or email me at the_true_crow@writing.com. Thank you for all the help.
We absolutely do not have the moral right to inflict this on animals, nor do we have the moral right to eat them.
However; My beautiful little daughter has CF. And I would slaughter an entire herd if I thought it would cure her. That makes me immoral, but so be it.
Any chasm between Morals and pragmatic action can be crossed with a tiny side-step
given the right circumstances.