Hot Topic: Bioethics
Today’s Hot Topic relates to the ethical concerns surrounding modern biology.
Is it ethical to genetically engineer dogs with little hoofs?
On the one hand, the benefits of having dogs with little hoofs instead of paws are obvious: it would be adorable. But what of the drawbacks?
Some say a dog with little hoofs like a cow’s or sheep’s would suffer leg pain, and difficulty walking on certain surfaces. Indeed, the consequences of having little cloven hoofs on a dog could never be known until one is actually created and allowed to live into adulthood in my house. It is entirely possible that it could all go horribly wrong.
On the other hand, there are those who say a dog with little hoofs that go clip-clop would have an unfair advantage over traditional dogs with paws, thus upsetting the balance of nature. These people argue a dog with tiny little hoofs would be faster and have more endurance, as well as heightened efficacy in scratching itself. In this case, the dog with cute little doggy hoofs might supercede normal dogs, rendering them extinct. But would the dogs of the world be happier with hoofs? Again, there’s only one way to know for sure.
What do you think? Let’s get a dialogue going.