from part of a post by Moorad Alexanian:
<< The most prominent reason for concern is the "Trojan gene" hypothesis of
Purdue University's William Muir. Using a different kind of genetically
engineered fish, Muir found that larger, faster-growing biotech fish are
more likely to succeed in mating than conventional fish. But the offspring
of those biotech fish are genetically less well adapted to survive.
Consequently, Muir believes, biotech fish could quickly decimate a fish
population by their increased ability to produce damaged young. Muir has
proposed further research into this hypothesis, but has been unable to get
funding.
Elliot Entis, president of A/F Protein, says that his company's studies have
not found that its salmon end up being larger than wild salmon at sexual
maturity, meaning they would not have a mating advantage. He also calls the
Trojan gene hypothesis beside the point: Fish breeding technology can render
the biotech fish almost 100 percent female and infertile, he said, and that
means they simply can't reproduce.
In addition, the company has proposed that fertile versions of the fish be
raised only in tanks on land, and that only sterile fish be allowed to be
raised in the traditional ocean cages now commonly found off Maine, Atlantic
Canada, Chile and Norway. Even some critics of genetically modified salmon
acknowledge that that could protect wild salmon from damage being done by
fish farming.
But critics warn that the precautions offered by A/F Protein to keep their
salmon infertile and away from wild fish are not foolproof--and point to the
recent discovery of unapproved biotech corn in taco shells as an indication
of how easily things can go wrong. Even the escape of a handful of fertile
biotech salmon, they say, could have enormous negative consequences.
>>
This is perhaps where there is some reason to be concerned. It is
reasonable to wonder whether the wild salmon population could be
innundated by a large influx of the "mutants".
However, it seems that no one has raised any issue about why the fisherman
have been allowed to over fished the wild salmon in the first place.
Nor have consumers lost any desire to consume the wild salmon which
is rapidly disappearing. Does the "law" create salmon or is
it our stewardship that preserves salmon. There are serious signs
of grave irresponsibility flying in all directions here, and not
just at the companies of genetically modified foods.
by Grace alone do we proceed,
Wayne
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