Genetically engineered Salmon :
In 1989, an American company genetically engineered salmon to grow twice as fast as wild salmon (Fletcher et al., 2005).
The salmon became available to consumers in the US in 2021 and 2017 in Canada, marking the first genetically modified product to be commercially produced and consumed (Waltz, 2017). This fascinating development could be the starting point in improving food security globally as global populations rise.
video explaining Aquabounty salmon and how they achieve the increased growth.
How is this achieved ?
By removing the growth hormone-regulating gene in Atlantic salmon and replacing it with the growth hormone gene from Chinook salmon, along with a promoter sequence from Ocean Pout. This modification enabled the fish to grow throughout the year and exceed the growth rate of their Atlantic salmon counterparts (Clifford, 2014).
Image: (Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d.)
GMO crops :
Research into GM crops began in the 1980s, with a focus on two primary traits: insect resistance and herbicide tolerance. These crops were selectively bred and are referred to as genetically modified organisms (GMOs). A new era of GM organisms has been achieved through the discovery of more straightforward genetic engineering strategies, such as CRISPR. These crops were introduced to the consumer market in 2015, sparking public interest in their benefits and risks (National Academies of Sciences, 2016).
Benefits :
- Contribute to global food security - allowing everyone access to sustainable, healthy food.
- Improving crop tolerance to harsh conditions, e.g., frost, salt and droughts
- Farmers' economic security is optimised through agricultural performance.
(European Commission n.d)
(Food Standards Agency, 2018)
(Phillips, 2018)
Image: (Plumer, 2014)
Genetically engineering embryos :
Genetic engineering in embryos is referred to as germline editing as the specific cells edited are called germline cells. This process involves altering the DNA in egg cells, sperm cells, or embryos (UK Parliament POST, 2020).
Why?
This technique enables scientists to gain a better understanding of genetic diseases and facilitates the creation of embryonic stem cell lines that model specific diseases. These cell lines can be used to test various treatments, thereby accelerating the development of pharmacological therapies for genetic diseases (Kaur & Dufour, 2012).
What are the concerns?
One of the primary ethical concerns of germline editing is that any changes to germline DNA may alter human nature. This concern is shared with many religions, with the idea that you are changing what God/ A higher being may have intended. Additionally, this practice could lead to the elimination of traits deemed undesirable by society, raising ethical concerns about discrimination (Resnik & Vorhaus, 2006).
One real-life example that blurs this line is the concept of Saviour Siblings.
Saviour Siblings, what are they?
Are children who are conceived through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and who serve as a match for siblings who have a rare or terminal disease. Critics argue that this procedure violates the ethical principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence as saviour siblings undergo medical procedures with no direct benefit to themselves. The benefit of this practice is that it allows a potentially life-changing treatment for a terminally ill sibling without the need to wait for a donor match. However, over time, the issue of consent has raised a lot more concerns as the “saviour siblings “ may be subjected to multiple medical procedures without their explicit consent (Kuek, Gurmukh Singh and Tay, 2021)
(Genetic Literacy Project 2019)
Image: (The Independent, 2022)
References:
Fletcher, G.L., Shears, M.A., Yaskowiak, E.S., King, M.J. & Goddard, S.V (2005) Gene transfer: Potential to Enhance the Genome of Atlantic Salmon for Aquaculture. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 44(11), pp.1095–1100.
Waltz, E (2017) First genetically engineered salmon sold in Canada. Nature, 548(7666), pp.148–148.
Clifford, H (2014) AquAdvantage® Salmon - a pioneering application of biotechnology in aquaculture. BMC Proceedings, 8(S4).
National Academies of Sciences, E (2016) Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects. nap.nationalacademies.org. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Available at: https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/23395/genetically-engineered-crops-experiences-and-prospects. ( Accessed 1 April 2025)
European Commission (n.d.) Genetically Modified Organisms. food.ec.europa.eu. Available at: https://food.ec.europa.eu/plants/genetically-modified-organisms_en.(Accessed 24 Mar 2025)
Food Standards Agency (2018) Genetically modified foods. Food Standards Agency. Available at: https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/genetically-modified-foods. (Accessed 1 April 2025)
Phillips, T (2018) Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Transgenic Crops and Recombinant DNA Technology. Scitable. Available at: https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetically-modified-organisms-gmos-transgenic-crops-and-732/. (Accessed 1 April 2025)
UK Parliament POST (2020) Human Germline Genome Editing. Available at: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/POST-PN-0611/POST-PN-0611.pdf. (Accessed 1 April 2025)
Kaur, G. and Dufour, J.M (2012) Cell Lines. Spermatogenesis, 2(1), pp.1–5.
Resnik, D.B. and Vorhaus, D.B. (2006) Genetic Modification and Genetic Determinism. Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine, 1(1), p.9.
Kuek, C.Y., Gurmukh Singh, S.K. a/p and Tay, P.S (2021) Conception of Saviour Siblings: Ethical Perceptions of Selected Stakeholders in Malaysia. Asian Bioethics Review, 13(2).
Genetic Literacy Project (2019) United Kingdom: Germline / Embryonic. Global Gene Editing Regulation Tracker. Available at: https://crispr-gene-editing-regs-tracker.geneticliteracyproject.org/united-kingdom-germline-embryonic/. (Accessed 1 April 2025)
www.youtube.com (n.d.) About AquaBounty Salmon. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT0jU2OStqQ (Accessed 28 March 2024)
Images :
Encyclopedia Britannica (n.d.) Fish meal. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/fish-meal.(Acessed 7 May 2025)
Plumer, B (2014) How widespread are GM foods? [online] Vox. Available at: https://www.vox.com/2014/11/3/18092748/how-widespread-are-gm-foods.(Accessed 7 May 2025)
The Independent (2022) Chinese scientists build robot nanny to care for babies in artificial womb. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/robot-nanny-china-population-b2004342.html.(Accessed 7 May 2025)