Hacker News Reader

Exactly, it depends on the value you put on animal welfare.

I don't put a particularly high value on it, but I can see that deciding where to put the line is a "moral minefield". In this case, I am more than happy to sacrifice lab rats.

But what about when the product needs to be tested on pigs/monkeys? What if the product then fails its human trials. Is it still worth it?

View on HN

Yes this will be an increasing topic of debate in the press as genomics, medicine, nanotech, designer drugs and robotics fields' progress in the coming years.

Funny thing is that your's and my opinions of where the line should be drawn are irrelevant along with the opinion of sovereign governments' (opinions and related laws). The scientists to do this work will do it anyway and anywhere based on available funding and their personal moral compass.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com