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'''SUCK A DILLDO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!''' is the trade name for a genetically modified [[Atlantic salmon]] developed by [[AquaBounty Technologies]]. The AquAdvantage salmon has been modified by the addition of a [[growth hormone]] regulating gene from a Pacific [[Chinook salmon]] and a [[Promoter (biology)|promoter]] from an [[ocean pout]] to the Atlantic's 40,000 genes. These genes enable it to grow year-round instead of only during spring and summer. The purpose of the modifications is to increase the speed at which the fish grows, without affecting its ultimate size or other qualities, though competing commercial conventional salmon growers have publicly challenged the purported fast growth rates of AquaBounty's salmon.{{sfn|Salmobreed|2011}} The fish grows to market size in 16 to 18 months rather than three years.<ref name="blumenthal2010">{{harvnb|Blumenthal|2010}}</ref> The latter figure refers to varieties whose growth rate has already been improved by 2:1 as a result of traditional [[selective breeding]]. ==Aquaculture== {{main|Aquaculture}} Commercial aquaculture is the most rapidly growing segment of the agricultural industry, accounting for more than $60B sales in 2003. While land-based agriculture is increasing between 2% to 3% per year, aquaculture has been growing at an average rate of approximately 9% per year since 1970. The UN expects the consumption of farmed fish to outpace global beef consumption by nearly 10% within five years, according to the UN.<ref name="Doward1">{{harvnb|Doward|2010}}</ref> As of 2007, [[Aquaculture of salmon|Salmon aquaculture]] produced approximately 69% of world salmon output, and over 80% of Atlantic salmon. Genetic modification occurs when incorporated gene construct opAFP-GHc2 is transferred into the Atlantic salmon (''[[Salmo salar]]'') and gene construct OnMTGH1 is transferred into the Coho salmon (''[[Oncorhynchus kisutch]]'')<ref name="Higgs">{{harvnb|Higgs|Sutton|Kim|Oakes|2009|pp=127-137}}</ref><ref name="Raven">{{harvnb|Raven|Uh|Sakhrani|Beckman|2008|pp=26-37}}</ref> These transferred genes allow the genetically modified fish to achieve accelerated growth rates, which confer longer survival and reproductive success.<ref name="Fitzpatrick">{{harvnb|Fitzpatrick|Akbarashandiz|Sakhrani|Biagi|2011|pp=185-191}}</ref> == Concerns == [[Aquaculture]] that uses naturally occurring salmon, mostly Atlantic salmon, cultivates the fish in net pens. In North America, this occurs mostly in coastal waters along [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington State]], [[British Columbia]] and [[Maine]]. However, the application for FDA approval of AquAdvantage salmon requires land-based tank cultivation and there are no sea-based pens under discussion. <ref name="Stotish">[http://www.biofortified.org/2013/04/interview-with-ron-stotish-at-bio/ Interview with Ron Stotish at BIO]</ref> Genetically modified salmon have raised concerns over the environmental impact they could have if they were to be released into the wild. Currently, no genetically modified salmon have been introduced into the wild. Modeled invasion scenarios in semi-natural environments suggest that genetically modified salmon would have the ability to outcompete [[wild-type]] salmon.<ref name="Sundstrom1">{{harvnb|Sundström|Devlin|2011|pp=447-460}}</ref><ref name="Moreau">{{harvnb|Moreau|Conway|Fleming|2011|pp=736–748}}</ref><ref name="Wei">{{harvnb|Wei|ZuoYan|2010|pp=401-408}}</ref><ref name="Ahrens">{{harvnb|Ahrens|2011|pp=583-597}}</ref> However, the researcher who developed the "Trojan gene" hypothesis frequently cited by critics of this salmon has discounted this scenario and describes this as an "urban myth". <ref name="Trojan">[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/11/ge-salmon-foes-cite-trojan-gene.html Foes of GE salmon raise specter of 'Trojan gene' effect]</ref> [[File:Salmo salar GLERL 1.jpg|thumb|alt= Wild-Type Atlantic Salmon (''[[Salmo salar]]'').|Wild-Type Atlanta Salmon (''[[Salmo salar]]'').]] ===Survival in new habitats=== Genetically modified fish can learn to feed on new prey, regain a feeding pattern, and switch to different types of food after leaving hatchery environments.<ref name="Sundstrom2">{{harvnb|Sundström|Tymchuk|Lõhmus|Devlin|2009|pp=762-769}}</ref> These adaptations could pose a risk if genetically modified salmon were to be released into the wild.<ref name=Sundstrom2 /> Genetically modified salmon can potentially survive twice as long as wild-type salmon.<ref name=Sundstrom1 /> The ability of genetically modified salmon to grow faster does not mean they are preferentially preyed upon, and this leads to increased survival.<ref name=Sundstrom1 /> In a competition scenario, such as a release of genetically modified fish from a salmon farm into the wild, the genetically modified salmon could initially outcompete wild-type salmon for food. This success would allow the genetically modified salmon's greater survival.<ref name=Sundstrom1 /><ref name=Sundstrom2 /> ===Rate of growth=== <!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:AquAdvantage Salmon.jpg|thumb|right|AquAdvantage salmon compared to non-transgenic salmon of the same age]] -->Genetically modified fish have the potential to feed more efficiently than wild-type salmon.<ref name=Fitzpatrick /> This leads to an accelerated growth rate during their first year after birth. These fish have the capability to grow eleven times faster than wild-type salmon. This characteristic allows genetically modified salmon to achieve maturation more rapidly and gives them the ability to reproduce in a time span of less than two years.<ref name=Fitzpatrick /><ref name=Sundstrom1 /> With this accelerated maturity, there is a risk that genetically modified salmon can reproduce at a much faster rate than wild-type salmon.<ref name=Fitzpatrick /> ===Smoltification=== Smoltification is the process of salmon adapting from freshwater to marine water. Concerns have been raised around the genetically modified salmon’s ability to potentially achieve smoltification in only one year.<ref name=Moreau /> This could allow genetically modified fish to reach freshwater quicker. The ability to reach freshwater first could allow genetically modified salmon to be in the presence of more food with less competition from the wild-type salmon.<ref name=Moreau /> ===Potential benefits=== Under simulated models, both prococial parr and anadromous genetically modified male salmon lack reproductive success and have a reduced number of offspring survivals. Additionally, they lack in swimming capabilities as compared to wild-type salmon.<ref name=Fitzpatrick /><ref name=Moreau /><ref name=Wei /><ref name="Lee">{{harvnb|Lee|Devlin|Farrell|2003|pp=753-766}}</ref> The genetically modified salmon expel more energy when swimming than wild-type salmon. This is most likely due to the type of muscle fibers. The genetically modified fish’s muscle fibers are smaller in diameter than wild-type salmon. The force a specific muscle can generate is proportional to the diameter of the muscle, and with a smaller muscle diameter than wild-type salmon, they produce less force than their wild type counterparts.<ref name=Lee /> Genetically modified salmon’s lack of fertilization success can be attributed to nest fidelity, quivering frequency, and spawn participation.<ref name=Moreau /> Under simulated competition environments, 94% of siring occurred by wild-type salmon, while only 5.4% was attributed to genetically modified salmon.<ref name=Fitzpatrick /> This advantage for wild-type salmon allows the possibility for more than twice as many wild-type offspring to be produced.<ref name=Fitzpatrick /> Other characteristics that could cause wild-type males to be chosen more frequently could be the lack of growth of the kype, the hooked jaw of a male, and red coloration on anadromous males, which shows sexual maturity to females. Using ''[[in vitro]]'' analysis, genetically modified salmon's ejaculate was much less concentrated, had a lower sperm count, and decreased sperm velocity, which can decrease the genetically modified salmon’s fertilization success.<ref name=Fitzpatrick /> ===Genetic fitness=== Genetically modified salmon can have a higher risk of acquiring disease.<ref name=Fitzpatrick /><ref name=Moreau /><ref name=Wei /> ===Potential solutions=== The fish's developer proposes to address these concerns by cultivating only sterile females at inland farms. They claim escapees could not reproduce, either natively or by interbreeding with wild stocks, because they are all [[triploid]], with three sets of [[chromosomes]].<ref name="Ron1">{{harvnb|Ron|2010}}</ref> They plan to provide farmers with eggs rather than fish.<ref name=blumenthal2010/> As an extra precautionary measure, it has been suggested that the genetically modified fish only be raised in land-based facilities (as opposed to aquatic, since there has been a history of escapes in such pens).<ref>http://news.discovery.com/animals/fish-salmon-genetically-modified.htm</ref> ==FDA review== The [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) has an ongoing review of an application by [[AquaBounty Technologies]] to allow the AquAdvantage salmon as the first genetically modified animal into the United States food supply. The developer submitted its first data set to the FDA in 1996 and has raised 10 generations of the fish.<ref name="naik1">{{harvnb|Naik|2010}}</ref> In September 2010, an FDA advisory panel indicated that the fish is "highly unlikely to cause any significant effects on the environment" and that it is "as safe as food from conventional Atlantic salmon"{{sfn|FDA|2010}}<ref name=ambt/> Kathleen Jones of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine said: {{cquote|In conclusion, all of the data and information we reviewed ... really drive us to the conclusion that AquAdvantage salmon is Atlantic salmon, and food from AquAdvantage salmon is as safe as food from other Atlantic salmon.<ref name="carollo">{{harvnb|Carollo|2010}}</ref>}} However the FDA advisory panel also concluded that more research was necessary.<ref name="Hedlund1">{{harvnb|Hedlund|2012}}</ref> In October 2010, 39 lawmakers wrote to the FDA requesting that it reject the application. Other groups have requested that the fish carry a label identifying its transgenic origin.<ref name="ambt">{{harvnb|Mundy|Tomson|2010}}</ref> Concerns included alleged flaws in sterilization, isolation and excessive [[antibiotic]] use.<ref name=naik1/> In 2012, the major shareholder of AquaBounty Technologies said that he doubted that approval would be granted for the AquAdvantage salmon in a US election year.<ref name="Pollack1">{{harvnb|Pollack|2012}}</ref> On 25 December 2012, the FDA published a draft [[National Environmental Policy Act#Environmental assessment|Environmental assessment]] for Aquadvantage salmon.{{sfn|FDA|December 2012}} The FDA also published a preliminary [[National Environmental Policy Act#Finding of No Significant Impact|Finding of No Significant Impact]].{{sfn|FDA|May 2012}} There was to be a 60 day period for the public to comment before the FDA reviewed Aquadvantage salmon again.{{sfn|Federal Register|2012}}<ref name="Reardon1">{{harvnb|Reardon|2012}}</ref> ==See also== * [[Genetically modified fish]] ==Notes== {{reflist|2}} ==References== *{{cite journal|ref=harv|last1=Ahrens|first1=R. N.|title=Standing Genetic Variation and Compensatory Evolution in Transgenic Organisms: A Growth-enhanced Salmon Simulation|journal=Transgenic Research|date=2011|pages=583-597}} *{{cite news|ref=harv|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/0801AR2010080103305.html?hpid=moreheadlines|publisher=Washington Post|title=Company says FDA is nearing decision on genetically engineered Atlantic salmon|first=Les |last=Blumenthal|date=August 2, 2010 |accessdate=August 2010}} *{{cite news|ref=harv|title=Surprise: FDA Panel Unable to Reach Conclusion on Genetically Modified Salmon Public Hearing Concludes, No Vote or Recommendation by FDA|first1=Kim |last1=Carollo|publisher=[[ABC News]]|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessNews/fda-unable-reach-conclusion-genetically-modified-salmon/story?id=11682586|date=20 September 2010 |accessdate=October 2010}} *{{cite news|ref=harv|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/sep/26/gm-food-battle-salmon|title=GM food battle moves to fish as super-salmon nears US approval|first=Jamie |last=Doward|publisher=The Guardian|date=September 26, 2010 |accessdate=October, 2010}} *{{cite journal|ref=harv|last1=Fitzpatrick|first1=John L.|last2=Akbarashandiz|first2=Hamid|last3=Sakhrani|first3=Dionne|last4=Biagi|first4=Carlo A.|last5=Pitcher|first5=Trevor E.|last6=Devlin|first6=Robert H.|title=Cultured Growth Hormone Transgenic Salmon Are Reproductively Out-competed by Wild-reared Salmon in Semi-natural Mating Arenas|journal=Aquaculture|volume=312|date=2011|pages=185-191}} *{{cite news|ref=harv|last1=Hedlund|first1=Steven|url=http://www.seafoodsource.com/newsarticledetail.aspx?id=15870|date=25 May 2012|accessdate=3 October 2012|title=Measure requiring GM salmon study rejected|publisher=Seafood Source}} *{{cite journal|ref=harv|last1=Higgs|first1=D.|last2=Sutton|first2=J.|last3=Kim|first3=H.|last4=Oakes|first4=J.|last5=Smith|first5=J.|last6=Biagi|first6=C.|last7=Rowshandeli|first7=M.|last8=Devlin|first8=R.|title=Influence of Dietary Concentrations of Protein, Lipid and Carbohydrate on Growth, Protein and Energy Utilization, Body Composition, and Plasma Titres of Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 in Non-transgenic and Growth Hormone Transgenic Coho Salmon, Oncorhynchus Kisutch (Walbaum)|journal=Aquaculture|volume=286|date=2009|pages=127-137}} *{{cite journal|ref=harv|last1=Lee|first1=C. G.|last2=Devlin|first2=R. H.|last3=Farrell|first3=A. P.|title=Swimming Performance, Oxygen Consumption and Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption in Adult Transgenic and Ocean-ranched Coho Salmon|date=2003|journal=Journal of Fish Biology|volume=62|pages=753-766}} *{{cite journal|ref=harv|last1=Moreau|first1=Darek T. R.|last2=Conway|first2=Corinne|last3=Fleming|first3=Ian A.|title=Reproductive performance of alternative male phenotypes of growth hormone transgenic Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)|journal=Evolutionary Applications|url=http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1752-4571.2011.00196.x/abstract|date=1 November 2011|volume=4|issue=6|pages=736–748|doi=10.1111/j.1752-4571.2011.00196.x}} *{{cite news|ref=harv|date=1 October 2010|title=Industry Fights Altered Salmon|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704789404575524313700416460.html?mod=googlenews_wsj|first1=Alicia |last1=Mundy |first2=Bill |last2=Tomson|publisher=Wall Street Journal|accessdate=September, 2010}} *{{cite news|ref=harv|title=Gene-Altered Fish Closer to Approval|first=Gautam |last=Naik|url= http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703989304575503891676987232.html|publisher=Wall Street Journal|date=September 21, 2010}} *{{cite news|ref=harv|last1=Pollack|first1=Andrew|date=21 May 2012|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/22/business/kakha-bendukidze-holds-fate-of-gene-engineered-salmon.html?pagewanted=all|title=An Entrepreneur Bankrolls a Genetically Engineered Salmon|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=3 October 2012}} *{{cite journal|ref=harv|last1=Raven|first1=P. A.|last2=Uh|first2=M.|last3=Sakhrani|first3=D.|last4=Beckman|first4=B. R.|last5=Cooper|first5=K.|last6=Pinter|first6=J.|last7=Leder|first7=E. H.|last8=Silverstein|first8=J.|last9=Devlin|first9=R. H.|title=Endocrine Effects of Growth Hormone Overexpression in Transgenic Coho Salmon|journal=General and Comparative Endocrinology|date=2008|volume=159|pages=26-37}} *{{cite news|ref=harv|last1=Reardon|first1=Sarah|date=28 December 2012|url=http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23035-approval-for-genemodified-salmon-spawns-controversy.html|title=Approval for gene-modified salmon spawns controversy|publisher=New Scientist|accessdate=2 January 2013}} *{{cite web|ref=harv|url=http://www.aquaculturehub.org/profiles/blogs/genetically-engineered-salmon|title=Genetically Engineered Salmon Eggs Designed to Grow on Land|first=Benny |last=Ron|date=November 23, 2010|accessdate=November, 2010}} *{{cite journal|ref=harv|last1=Sundström|first1=Fredrik L.|last2=Devlin|first2=Robert H.|title=Increased Intrinsic Growth Rate Is Advantageous Even under Ecologically Stressful Conditions in Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus Kisutch)|journal=Evolutionary Ecology|volume=25|date=2011|pages=447-460}} *{{cite journal|ref=harv|last1=Sundström|first1=Fredrik L.|last2=Tymchuk|first2=W. E.|last3=Lõhmus|first3=M.|last4=Devlin|first4=R. H.|title=Sustained Predation Effects of Hatchery-reared Transgenic Coho Salmon Ohcorhynchus Kisutch in Semi-natural Environments|journal=Journal of Applied Ecology|volume=46|date=2009|pages=762-769}} *{{cite journal|ref=harv|last1=Wei|first1=H. U.|last2=ZuoYan|title=Integration Mechanisms of Transgenes and Population Fitness of GH Transgenic Fish|journal=Science China Life Sciences|volume=4|date=2010|pages=401-408}} *{{cite web|ref={{harvid|FDA|2010}}|url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/VeterinaryMedicineAdvisoryCommittee/UCM224762.pdf|publisher=Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine|title=Briefing Packet: AquAdvantage Salmon|date=20 September 2010}} *{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Federal Register|2012}}|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-12-26/pdf/2012-31118.pdf|title=Draft Environmental Assessment and Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact Concerning a Genetically Engineered Atlantic Salmon|date=26 December 2012|publisher=Federal Register|volume=77|number=247|accessdate=2 January 2013}} *{{cite web|ref={{harvid|FDA|December 2012}}|date= 25 December 2012|url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/VeterinaryMedicineAdvisoryCommittee/UCM224760.pdf|title=Environmental Assessment for AquAdvantage Salmon|publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration|accessdate= 2 January 2013}} *{{cite web|ref={{harvid|FDA|May 2012}}|date=4 May 2012|url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AnimalVeterinary/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/GeneticEngineering/GeneticallyEngineeredAnimals/UCM333105.pdf|title=Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact AquAdvantage Salmon|publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration Department of Health and Human Services|accessdate= 2 January 2013}} *{{cite press release |ref={{harvid|Salmobreed|2011}} |first= |title=Salmobreed challenges GMO Salmon |trans_title= |language= |date= November 2011 |publisher=Salmobreed |location= |url=http://www.salmobreed.no/newsletters/en/newsletter_5_2011.pdf |format= |accessdate=2013-01-18}} ==External links== * [http://www.aquabounty.com/products/aquadvantage-295.aspx AquAdvantage] * [http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/18/gm-salmon-aquabounty Obama administration 'bailed out' GM salmon firm] ''The Guardian'', 18 October 2011. {{salmon}} {{Genetic engineering}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Genetically Modified Salmon}} [[Category:Genetically modified organisms in agriculture]] [[Category:Aquaculture]] '