Fish Grow Four Times Faster on Animal Pharm
June 4th, 2008 by AndrewIn the television documentary Animal Pharm the presenters attempt to balance the arguments for and against genetic manipulation. One segment within the first of a two part documentary shows salmon that grow four times faster than normal in their first year of life.
The program, screened on ABC in Australia, case studies a variety of different types of genetic manipulation from the selective breeding (normal practice in modern farming) through to transgenics - the ability to identify individual genes, extract them and then move genes between species. Various types of procedure in pigs, chickens, cattle and horses are reviewed as well as genetic manipulation in aquaculture.
Looking at the ‘pharmed’ salmon and the non GM salmon swimming side by side in the same tank is amazing. The bulk of the fish with the transgene present is astounding.
The work to produce the high growth salmon has been conducted by Mr Joe McGonigal. The fish with the transgene grows faster during its first year of life.
Normally salmon grows in warmer water. McGonigal has taken a gene which controls growth from a fish that is a cold water species. By introducing this gene to the Super Salmon, the fish are able to grow year round - whatever the temperature.
McGonigal justifies his work by pointing out the food conversion ratio efficiencies in the genetically manipulated fish. He claims a 30% higher weight gain per gram of feed over non GM salmon.
He points out that the salmon have been created sterile to negate the chance of potential escapees interbreeding with wild stocks.
Could this be part of the solution required to break the nexus between limits on our ability to sustainably supply fish meal and filling the global fish production gap?
Information about the the program is presented here.
What other examples of genetic manipulation for growth promotion in fish exist? Are their species other than salmon in which similar work has been conducted? What conditions must be met for safe practice?
Are there any other resources that you can point to that will help our community of interest appreciate the key issues?
Who is leading practice in these areas world wide?
Tags: Genetics, salmon, video
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