Did anyone suggest that genes is actually a good basis for assigning rights and importance to a creature? We just discussed the (lack of)evolutionary origin of our respect for animals. I think we are still at the question i posed at #10. Are there any more general aspects of creatures to take into account? Also any of the implicit ones, i would like to know. If we can not make any more general statements, there is little else to do then consider/compare specific animals.

For instance if you could save either a cow or a cat from death(with no other effect), which would you save? (Please consider more the more general statements first, I think we are short on those.)