Transgenic Salmon Cons

Much of the world’s salmon is now farmed. Farmed salmon has had many problems with infectious diseases including salmon anaemia and sea lice (Valdes-Donoso, Mardones, Jarpa, Ulloa, Carpenter, & Perez, 2013). Fish that are farmed tend to have a lot more contact with diseases. To prevent and treat this, fish farmers utilize many chemicals and antibiotics that can, in turn, damage the ocean. However, with genetically modified salmon that are raised in inland tanks, disease introduction is limited and can be easily identified and treated without harming the environment around it (Aquabounty Technologies, 2014). This leads to healthier fish and a healthier ocean. In salmon farms along the coast of Scotland, about 1.9 million salmon escaped between 2002 and 2009 (Green, Penman, Miguad, Bron, Taggart, McAndrew, & Browman, 2012). As stated by Green et al. “Potential detrimental effects could include increased infestation by sea lice, competition for food or other resources, and interbreeding enabling the spread of farmed genes into the while population thereby lowering fitness” (p. 1). This is one of the many problems that stem from salmon farming. In contrast, genetically modified salmon will be bred inland and entirely contained so that salmon will not be able to escape

A GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) is a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species is extracted, then artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal. The foreign genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans. Example: The transgenic potato plants that have

The Atlantic salmon was picked by AquaBounty Technologies to undergo genetic modification. The salmon has a growth hormone

Genetically modified crops are being developed to produce their own pesticide. This will bring the rapid appearance of resistant insects. Even worse, these pesticide producing plants have killed some beneficial insects and pests that many farmers use in their crops. For example, inserting a gene from a snowdrop, a perennial herb found in Europe and Asia into a potato, made the potato resistant to the green fly, but killed lady bugs that feed on green flies.

To make it easier to study certain diseases, transgenic animals have been developed to have a particular gene that

The terms "genetic engineering", "genetic manipulation", gene technology and trans-genes or the utilization of recombinant DNA are the terms used to describe modification processes. Genetic engineering is a positioned of developments used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes inside and crosswise over species limits to deliver enhanced or innovative organisms. The systems include modern controls of inherited material and other organically energetic elements. Genetic engineering is also known GM or genetic modification.

They are found in chocolate, cheese, chips, bread and salad dressing to name but a few.” These seem to be as many advantages as there are disadvantages according to scientists, researcher and farmers (“Bionet”, n.d.). For example, the sweet corn crop has been modified to repel insects. This is a huge win for growers. They do not have to invest the money for pesticides, and they can make the claim that they are producing pesticide-free food. Another example is the first crop that was genetically modified and consumed by the masses in 1994 – the tomato. The genetically modified tomatoes last longer, maintain better color, stayed on the vine longer and also produced fewer chemicals slowing down the decomposition. Other dangers that GMO foods present is the effect on the environment. GM food, especially BT and HT crops are filled with chemicals and toxins that are intended for destroying unwanted weeds and insect. However, when such plants pollinate, they send spores through the air that also carry the DNA structure designed to kill weeds and insects. The targets of these BT and HT plants are out of control, and harmless insects are dying because of BT and HT

From the beginning of agriculture, humans have always been experimenting with new ways to produce healthier, tastier foods that last longer and grow larger. However, scientists in the biotechnology industry have come up with a new way to genetically alter foods and other products, by producing GMOs. An acronym for Genetically Modified Organisms, GMOs are organisms that have been genetically modified to show only the desirable traits when they mature. To produce what they call, “transgenic plants”, scientists use recombinant DNA technology (JRSM). They can do this by isolating a gene that produces a specific trait from one organism and splice it into a chromosome from another organism, giving that organism the trait that the first organism originally possessed (PBS). Scientists at Cornell University discovered a way to splice genes into the chromosomes of plants, and that is by using a “Gene Gun” (PBS). Using compressed gas, the “Gene Gun” expels many of the same genes adhered to microscopic balls at a plant. When the balls pass through the plant, some genes stick to the cells of the plant, producing cells that can be grown in culture to produce a “transgenic plant” (PBS).

The genetically modified organisms or GMOs are the animals and plants that are genetically modified in order to develop the useful or desired traits. The techniques used to carry out genetic modification are known as genetic engineering techniques. The recombinant DNA technology is used for creating a new set of genes by combining the DNA molecules from different sources. The DNA is transferred into the organism in question and

The first GM crop that reached the market was Bt cotton, with this crop; farmers can spray less pesticide and improve the health of consumers. The planting of GM cotton had been very effective to farmers, “Transgenic cotton reduced pesticide use by more than two million pounds in the United States from 1996 to 2000, and it has reduced pesticide sprayings in parts of China by more than half” (Rauch). Genetically Modified crops have been successful in the United States and China because these two countries are the major producers in the agricultural world. To further prove this point, the use of pesticide had reduced by more than 14 million pounds on 23 million acres of U.S. land; ever since the use of GMO which was proven to be statistically significant (Rauch). However the various consequences that follow the benefits of Genetically Modified foods such as the threat to human health outweigh its benefits.

The idea behind GMOs is to enhancement and increase crop production. One of the most common modifications is the addition of a gene that causes the plant to produce Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, that is toxic to many herbivore insects. These plants do not need to be treated with chemical insecticides. These plants contain the same nutrients as their unmodified counterparts and are able to protect themselves against the insects. The Bt toxin has not shown any effects on

As of mid-1996, a total of 35 approvals had been granted to commercially grow 8 transgenic crops and one flower crop of carnation with 8 different traits in 6 countries plus the European Union (EU) [5]. In 2000, Vitamin A enriched golden rice was developed [6]. Currently, there are a number of food species available in the market in which a genetically modified version exists, such as cotton, soybean, canola, potatoes, eggplant, strawberries, corn, tomatoes, lettuce, cantaloupe, carrots. Some of the genetically engineered products are currently in the pipeline including medicines and vaccines, and feeds and fibers.

Columnist Shane Burgess also stated that GMO’s are some of the most useful, progressive, and sustainable makings in the world (Blake 1). As technology has become more prominent in recent years, advancements in the modification of food have progressed as well. The modification process is faster and more efficient than ever before, and single DNA variations can be observed in a lab (The 1). This evidence supports that genetic engineering is an efficient, speedy, and convenient way of producing certain crops.

A well known example of this is the use of Bacillus thuringiensis, otherwise known as B.t genes, being injected into corn. This gene enables corn to produce its own pesticides against various insects. Traditionally, the process of enhancing desired traits in plants was done by breeding, but the conventional methods of breeding have been found to be both time consuming and not always accurate. This traditional method stays within the limits of nature, whereas biotechnology “plays God” and disrupts natures natural course. Some examples of FDA approved GM crops include, “tomatoes and cantaloupes that have modified ripening characteristics, soybeans and sugar beets that are resistant to herbicides, and corn and cotton plants with increased resistance to insects pests” (Assouline 15). In America, nine crops are the top commercialized GM products and sold to consumers nationwide. These include, soy (98 percent GM), cotton (83 percent GM), canola (75 percent GM), corn (60 percent GM), Papaya (57 percent GM), alfalfa, zucchini, and yellow squash (Assouline 17). These new technologies, raise recondite questions that should be answered before moving forward with the advancement and use of said technology.

Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are organisms that have been processed with recombinant DNA technology, which involves the transfer of genetic material from one organism to another. The recombined DNA material can be incorporated into the target organism either indirectly through a vector system or directly through injection techniques. The transferred gene is surrounded by activators, gene sequences that control the expression of the gene. The key of genetic engineering is to accurately control the expression of genes to develop the desired traits (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgenesis).