Re: Frankenfish ??
2014/04/03 09:55:19
(permalink)
they are researching two different methods to give that increased growth.
one is a triploid genome, meaning instead of 2 sets of genes, ex XY for a male or XX for a female they are doing XXY and XXX, these being sterile spend all of their energy on growth rather than reproduction
the other is using spliced genes, usually one from the salmon species with a growth section from another species spliced into the genome
both produce very large, fast growing fish
the concern is about them escaping and breeding as well as transferring disease into wild stocks
both are legit concerns. salmon farms in the near shore areas of canada have had accidental releases and disease issues
you are right that our food today is dependent on genetically modified crops, just about everything we eat has been "designed" to give maximum production for the given conditions where they are grown (be they plant or animal), but the idea of taking a section of genes from one species and transferring it into another gives people a sci fi creep out