The animal rights

Are you an animal? Probably you would not like the association with an inferior living creature. Humans are the proud bipedal primates belonging to the mammalian species Homo sapiens, in the family of Hominidae (great apes). Yet, a mere 2% of our genome differs from that of a chimp (if we consider non-coding DNA) but this is an approximate figure and more accurate estimates are being made along with the advancement in genomic research. In the end, it will probably turn out that an even smaller portion of our DNA sequence is to be held responsible for our superior abilities. You would be surprised to find out that, although greater, there is not much more difference between your DNA and the DNA of a rat.
What about rights? Human right vs. animal rights? We feed animals for the purpose of eating them. We use them in laborious physical activities; we use them for fun or as companions. We starve them, we hunt them, we scare them, we separate couples, we isolate them; we use them for the most horrifying experiments with all the imaginable chemical compounds; we seldom pay any tribute to their memories.
Should we worry about this attitude? Or it is a well earn right of ours? The prize of winning the evolutionary race? Do they have any rights at all? If so, which? And how should they be attributed? Non-discriminatory or based on the complexity of their DNA?
Again, should we even worry about this? My answer is YES. And this concern should go well beyond some moral issues. Why? Because we are animals ourselves. So far, we are the top of the evolutionary chain. It is, however, within our grasp to speed up dramatically the rate of the evolution, that is, the rate of beneficial mutations to our DNA. In the next decades, despite some moral debates, there will be newborns with improved DNA. Superior humans. How superior? One can hardly imagine. Far stronger, faster and healthier. Even more, potentially far more intelligent. This means they will potentially be incredible more sophisticated species. Another specie? Maybe.
In fact, there is a possibility that entire populations featuring different superior abilities will show up. Will they fight one another? Or will they grant each other rights and coexist peacefully? How about the old fashion Homo sapiens (that is, you and me)? How will they be treated? Will they be considered perfect subjects for controversial experiments or potential organs donors?

Maybe it’s just about time to sit down and seriously think about the charter of animal rights. Not necessarily for their sake, but for our own sake.