Question

GMO is not just plants. For example, there are GMO salmon. The fact that female salmon are more attracted to the genetically modified males is something to look at too. You just need one GMO salmon to mate with a wild salmon and now you have GMO hybrids. Are you comfortable with this level or risk? Why or why not?

Answer 1

• Genetically modified organisms or GMO are genetically engineered organism with a gene expressing a new trait is introduced.
• In case of genetically modified salmon, one example is that of AquAdvantage salmon (GM Atlantic Salmon).
• Wildtype salmon breed and grow during specific season, which decrease their productivity.
• GM salmon has genes from different salmon, ligated with a promoter which allows their growth throughout the year.
• Like in AquAdvantage Salmon, growth hormone regulating gene from Pacific Chinook Salmon is added.
• However, if a single salmon can breed with a number of wildtype salmon, the resultant generation will have a fixed gene pool.
• With generations there may be decrease in heterozygosity, resulting in allele fixation and decrease in genetic diversity.
• Biodiversity refers to the variability among different organisms and refers to maintaining a diverse group or wide range of species in the environment.
• Breeding with GMO salmon will result in decreased biodiversity or variation in species among the salmon population.
• Some species may become endangered and may become extinct in future, which will in turn affect biodiversity. Thus, it is important to retain some components of each such species and maintain a variety of genetic alleles.
• Thus, GMO salmon breeding may cause serious damage to ecological diversity and balance, due to genetic implications..