Factors to consider before production and commercialization of aquatic genetically modified organisms: the case of transgenic salmon

A Review of Genetic Engineering in Current Aquaculture Practises

“…The insertion of a gene by chance into an unknown genome can have various outcomes that can affect not only the desirable trait but also other physiological functions such as reproduction, immune defence, nutrition and so on [2]. Genes' interactions are multiple and very complex, and physiological and environmental conditions can also influence the expression of a certain gene [2].…”

“…temperature), resistance to disease and parasites and modification of behaviour (e.g. aggressiveness) [2]. The principal species used in bioengineering experiments are Atlantic salmon (Salmosalar), Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), tilapia (Oreochromisniloticus) and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) [4].…”

“…This GM salmon, called Aqua Advantage Salmon, can grow 5-10 times faster than its natural counterpart and therefore reaches market size in 1.5 years instead of 3 [15]. Transgenesis is the process of introducing an exogenous gene (transgene) from one organism to another, so that the new organism will exhibit the new trait that the transgene codes for [2]. Although this technique might sound simple, it is far from so: it involves the modification of the very molecule of life, the DNA; it means crossing species barriers created by nature over evolutionary time scales.…”

“…With recent advances in genetics and marine biotechnology, aquaculture may undergo a further transformation with the addition of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to farmed stocks. Genetic engineering of fish and shellfish has been under development for decades but until recently this has been restricted to research experiments [2]. However, after 20 years of pressures from aquaculture and biotechnology companies, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is on the verge of approving genetically modified salmon in US markets [3].…”

Genetically modified food and its impact on the environment

“…In fact, the amount of herbicides utilized for corn, soybeans, and cotton has increased in the US since 2002 [23]. Besides GM plant production leading to a possible increase in pollution, GM salmon cause increased underwater pollution, resulting in the destruction of aquatic life [24]. …”