Genetically Engineered Salmon and Male Mosquito Essay Example
The issue of genetically modified products serves as one of the most discussed in the modern world. While genetically modified food products from plats took center stage in the recent past, recently, genetically modified animals and insects are the center of discussion. For scientists involved in the production of genetically modified organisms, they consider the achievement as a milestone in addressing a variety of challenges affecting humans in the modern world that stem from food shortages to diseases (Anthes). Opponents of genetically modified organisms on the other hand point on adverse challenges presented by the organisms to the natural world. The paper examines genetically modified salmon and the male mosquito and equally addresses a variety of societal concerns.
Genetically Engineered Salmon
November 2015 saw the federal regulators approve genetically engineered s
...almon as good for consumption making the fish the first genetically altered animal within the U.S to gain recognition for sale at dinner tables and at the commercial level. The producers of the genetically engineered salmon, AquaBounty Technologies had focused on achieving that goal since the 1990s with the most recent approval by Food and Drug Administration serving as a significant achievement for the organization (Fedoroff). FDA recognizes the fish as safe for consumption and equally for the environment. Referred to as the AquAdvantage salmon, the fish refers to an Atlantic Solomon that underwent genetic modification so as to enhance it in growing to market size at a faster rate while compared to the natural farmed salmon in a short time as half of the ordinary. Other than only taking a short time in growth, the genetically engineered fish has almost twice the length of the normal
salmon fish. In qualifying the salmon as safe for consumption and to the environment, the FDA conducted a thorough analysis and evaluation of the data and everything that AquaBounty submitted in relation to the salmon and arrived at a decision that the organization adhered to the regulatory requirements provided by the federal government (Fedoroff).
In a statement from the FDA officials, the process of recognizing the genetically engineered salmon as safe relates to the fact that the approval serves as the first of its kind. Furthermore, FDA provided further directions that the fish will not be subjected to labels as genetically engineered in adherence to a policy followed by other food manufactured from genetically engineered plants (Fedoroff). However, the FDA presented a draft guidance that organizations may voluntarily avoid labeling salmon as genetically modified or label it as such.
Consumer together with environmental groups stands in the front line in opposing the approval of the genetically engineered salmon. These opponents argue that the safety studies prove inadequate and that the genetically modified salmon would lead to adverse effects on the wild salmon populations in a situation where the engineered fish escaped into rivers and oceans. These groups have taken steps further and filed a lawsuit that challenges the approval of the product by FDA. As with the case of genetically modified food from plants, the groups perceive the products as unsafe for human consumption and ones that may lead to adverse irreversible effects to the environment (Fedoroff). As such, it is for the interest of the people around the globe and the environment that production of genetically engineered salmon comes to a halt.
Genetically Engineered Male Mosquitoes
Genetically engineered
organisms are not only directed for use in addressing the food shortage problems that humans face in the modern world, but equally in dealing with some challenging diseases whose medication may take long to discover. One such move is evidenced in the recent achievement by Oxitec, a British firm that manages in creating genetically modified male mosquitoes for the major vector of Zika together with chikungunya and dengue (Suresh). The firm designed their mosquitos so as to enhance in releasing modified males to the natural world where the males after mating with the females, they will produce offspring that lack the capability of surviving until adulthood. With the South American countries and most notably Brazil hit by the dangerous diseases resulting from mosquitos leading to birth defects, the national biosafety group in Brazil approved the mosquito to be released in every part of the country after conducting successful trials. In the U.S, despite lack of direct threat from the virus emanating from the mosquito, the federal government on March 2016 allowed for the release of the genetically modified mosquitoes into the wild with an aim of slowing the rate of Zika virus spread. Although the mosquitoes causing the virus are not at the moment found within the U.S, the federal government through FDA is concerned that the virus spread by the natural mosquitoes is a threat to the U.S citizens and thus calling for the need of releasing the genetically engineered mosquitoes.
The genetically modified mosquitoes are manufactured using a self-limiting gene that causes the insect to produce a toxic protein that limits other important proteins from functioning and as a result leading to deaths of
the cells and consequently the death of the insect (Pollack). Therefore, after the gene is passed on the offspring, it becomes a vector disease leading to the death of the mosquitoes before developing into adulthood. These genetically engineered mosquitoes are fed on a specific diet that contains a compound that plays the role of a switch responsible for preventing production of the toxic protein.
However, irrespective of the associated benefits of the genetically modified mosquitoes and their consequent impact upon release into the environment, the regulation by the federal government faces opposition from the Florida Keys residents where a control test is to take place and also from environmentalist groups. Entomologists further argue that there is a possibility that other mosquitoes populations may increase upon elimination of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the specific type responsible for transmitting dengue and Zika.
Discussion
The use of genetically modified products seems as the new direction in addressing some of the challenges experienced in the world today. An increase in farm efficiency by editing animal genes presents some benefits but equally calling for ethical concerns. However, before approval of a specific program that aims at producing genetically modified organisms, specific organization like the FDA conduct vigorous and specific reviews to ascertain the possible dangers associated to humans and the rest of the environment (Pollack). The case example of genetically modified salmons serve as a notable incident where the FDA took more than a decade in ascertaining the possible adverse effects and the means of eliminating such. Before approving the product as safe for human consumption and equally to the environment, FDA has taken into consideration all the ethical and adverse concerns of
the genetically modified salmon (Fedoroff). Consequently, the use of transgenic insects while controlling diseases serves as a well-established approach that dates decades back. Technological development has enhanced in attaining such goals and the production of genetically modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes is no different, but rather a measure towards addressing the existing challenge caused by the mosquitoes. With scientists revealing that finding medication that will cure or prevent the virus and the fever associated from the species as unlikely in the recent future and the adverse effects that human population is exposed to, it seems the best time to make use of biological measures in addressing the issue (Suresh). Furthermore, the use of biological measures in addressing such problems will enhance in eliminating the use of dangerous pesticides that lead to adverse effects on both the human population and the overall environment.
As such, it is indicative that the modern society possesses the capability of increasing farm efficiency by editing animal genes. The achievement proves crucial due to the rising human population that calls for increased rate of production in agricultural products to feed the ever-growing human population. With the existing agricultural lands and the associated climatic challenges limiting food production by natural agricultural methods capable for feeding the world population, developments in the scientific field of gene editing proves critical. However, despite the need of such scientific developments proving important, it remains imperative noting that it is impossible to have a lot of animal products produced by gene editing in the coming year. The reason for such emanates from the fact that it takes a lot of time to assess the possible effects of any genetically
modified product to the environment and other organisms including humans. As with other technological and scientific developments over time, the society will equally allow genetically engineered animals.
Works Cited
- Anthes, Emily. "Dont Be Afraid of Genetic Modification - The New York Times." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. N.p., 9 Mar. 2013. Web. 31 May 2016. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/opinion/sunday/dont-be-afraid-of-genetic-modification.html?version=meter+at+5&module=meter Links&pgtype=Blogs&contentId=&mediaId=&referrer=&priority=true&action=click&contentCollection=meter-links-click
- Fedoroff, Nina. "The Genetically Engineered Salmon Is a Boon for Consumers and Sustainability - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. N.p., 2 Dec. 2015. Web. 31 May 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/12/02/are-genetically-engineered-salmon-too-fishy/the-genetically-engineered-salmon-is-a-boon-for-consumers-and-sustainability>.
- Pollack, Andrew. "Genetically Engineered Salmon Approved for Consumption - The New York Times." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. N.p., 19 Nov. 2015. Web. 31 May 2016. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/20/business/genetically-engineered-salmon-approved-for-consumption.html?version=meter+at+5&module=meter-Links&pgtype=Blogs&contentId=&mediaId=&referrer=&priority=true&action=click&contentCollection=meter-links-click&_r=0
- Pollack, Andrew. "Test of Zika-Fighting Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes Gets Tentative F.D.A. Approval - The New York Times." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. N.p., 11 Mar. 2016. Web. 31 May 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/12/business/test-of-zika-fighting-genetically-altered-mosquitoes-gets-tentative-fda-approval.html>.
- Suresh, Arvind. "Could genetically engineered mosquitoes fight vector-borne diseases like dengue and Zika?" N.p., 21 Jan. 2016. Web. <https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2016/01/21/genetically-engineered-mosquitoes-fight-vector-borne-diseases-like-dengue-zika/>.
