Under what conditions would it be right — or is it never acceptable — to eliminate a harmful species from our planet? That’s what an international team of researchers, including Professor of Philosophy Dr. Clare Palmer from Texas A&M University, explores in a study published in Science.
In the study, “ Deliberate extinction by genome modification: An ethical challenge ,” researchers examine the controversial idea of using genetic engineering for local and full species extinction as a conservation strategy. They conducted case studies on three species: the New World screwworm ( Cochliomyia hominivorax ); the Anopheles gambiae mosquito, a vector for malaria; and invasive rodent species like the house mouse and black rat.
“Together, we argue, these cases suggest that deliberate full extinction might occasionally be acceptable, but only extremely rarely,” the team states.
A screwworm is a parasitic fly that infests warm-blooded animals, causing severe suffering and economic loss, particularly in livestock. Mosquitos carrying malaria are extremely dangerous for humans of all ages. Nearly 290 million people around the world are infected annually, and 400,000 of them will die of the disease. And invasive house mice on islands are eating seabirds alive , driving their populations toward extinction.
“These cases highlight the tension between the intrinsic value of a species and the benefits of eradicating a harmful pest,” Palmer said. “While the suffering caused by these species is undeniable, the ethical implications of deliberately driving a species to extinction are profound. We must carefully weigh the ecological and moral implications of such actions.”
The researchers examined the use of several genetic methods to eradicate harmful species:
The researchers conclude that while deliberate extinction through genome modification is justified in rare and compelling cases, it should be approached with caution. The study calls for robust ethical safeguards and inclusive decision-making frameworks to guide the use of these powerful technologies.
They suggest the following conditions under which eradication could be considered:
Palmer said she hopes the study will influence public policy and conservation practices. “Our goal is to foster a more nuanced understanding of the ethical dimensions of genome modification,” she said. “We need to balance the potential benefits with the moral responsibilities we have towards all species.”
This research was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
By Lesley Henton, Texas A&M University Division of Marketing and Communications
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Science
Deliberate extinction by genome modification: An ethical challenge
15-May-2025