This week, in the “GMOnth”, we'll be talking about genetically modified fish. These were the first genetically modified organisms that were sold as pets for the common household. These “GloFish®” are regular zebrafish, but just come in florescent colours such as red, orange-yellow, green, blue and purple. Currently, all research has been finished, and they are readily available to buy, but in the United States only excluding California, because of the law against GMO's (for protection of the environment).
Some may wonder about ethics in relation to these magnificent creations. Well, the company that has created “GloFish®” have ethical principles in place to protect all and any rights/prevent any safety concerns. The principles are as follows: Environmental Safety First (the company believes that it is imperitant that the fish be safe for the environment, and promises that any fish found to be an environmental concern by showing increased strength or successes in "growth rates, temperature sensitivities, and mating success" will not be permitted to be sold), Regulatory Engagement (the company will "actively engage with any regulatory agencies that have regulations that cover [their] fish, or are otherwise interested in revieweing the ecological safety of [their] fish."), The Humane Treatment Of Fish (the company is committed to "humane breeding practices" and ensures that the distributors will make their best effort to provide "an exemplary, healthy environment" for the fish. They also add that although “GloFish®” are beautiful and magnificent creatures, they should still be treated as animals and not toys, and stress that it is very important to take care of the fish.), Advancing Scientific Research (the company simply states that they promote and support any and all scientific research and that a portion of every sale goes towards supporting additional medical and scientific programs.), and finally and Open and Informed Discussion (the company encourages any and all questions or comments to be sent to the "FAQ" section of the website and promises that they are constantly checking with the experts on the Scientific Advisory Board to ensure ecological safety.). For more information, go to the “GloFish®” official website at http://www.glofish.com/ethics.asp.
The great thing about “GloFish®” is that there really are no risks. After interviewing Bill Muir (professor of genetics at Purdue University) he states that there aren't very many risks that could be associated with “GloFish®” saying that "In my opinion, these fish are safe.". He also states that if they were let out into the wild that "the transgenic fish, the “GloFish®”, would go extinct.".
On the 13th of July, 2010, the European Commission released recommendations on GMO's existence trying to avoid "unintended presence of GMO's in conventional and organic crops". The principles are as follows: "Transparency, cross-border cooperation and stakeholder involvement", "Proportionality", "Levels of admixture to be attained through national co-existence measures to avoid the unintended presence of GMOs in conventional and organic crops", "measures to exclude GMO cultivation from large areas ('GM-free areas')" & finally "liability rules".
In 1999, Dr. Zhiyuan Gong and his colleagues at the National University of Singapore were working with a gene called green fluorescent protein (GFP). It was originally from a jellyfish, that naturally produced bright green fluorescence. They inserted the gene into a zebrafish embryo, allowing it to mix into the zebrafish's genome, which caused the fish to be brightly fluorescent under both natural white light and ultraviolet light. Their goal was to make a fish that could detect pollution by glowing fluorescly when in the presence of environmental toxins. The development of the constantly fluorescing fish was the first step in this process. Shortly after, his team developed a line of red fluorescent zebra fish by adding a gene from a sea coral, and orange-yellow fluorescent zebra fish, by adding a variant of the jellyfish gene. The scientists from NUS and businessmen Alan Blake and Richard Crockett from Yorktown Technologies, L.P., a company in Austin, Texas, met and a deal was signed. Yorktown obtained the worldwide rights to market the GloFish. And around the same time, a separate deal was made between Taikong, the largest aquarium fish producer in Taiwan, and the Taiwanese researchers to market the green medaka in Taiwan under the name TK-1. In the spring of 2003, Taiwan became the first to authorize sales of a genetically modified organism as a pet. There was one hundred thousand fish reportedly sold in less than a month at $18.60 each in the US. To clarify the fluorescent medaka are not GloFish, as they are not marketed by Yorktown Technologies, but instead by Taikong Corp under a different brand name.
There is a lot talk about the economic, environmental, and societal impacts of GMO's. Well when looking into it the websites that sell Glow Fish ensure environmental safety is first. They state that they believe it is of paramount importance that all the fluorescent fish we offer for sale be safe for the environment. "To ensure that we are successful, stringent testing will be performed before any fish is made available to the public, with specific emphasis placed on analyzing growth rates, temperature sensitivities, and mating success. Any line of fluorescent fish demonstrating increased strengths or successes in these areas relative to non-fluorescent fish of the same species, or otherwise displaying any characteristic that poses an environment concern, will not be offered for sale." They also state that there is humane treatment of the fish. "We are committed to humane breeding practices, and the distributors of GloFish® fluorescent fish will make every effort to provide an exemplary, healthy environment for our fish throughout their life cycle. We encourage our customers to remember that, while unique, beautiful, and interesting, these fish are living creatures and not toys, and should be treated with the utmost care." For more information you can visit there website at: http://www.glofish.com/ethics.asp
The benifits of Glow Fish were originally, produced to help find pollutants in water. The idea was that non-fluorescing fish would indicate the water was safe, whereas a fluorescing fish would indicate danger. For example water pollution.The Risks: There is no risks that protain to Glow Fish.
The Benefits: The Glow Fish was made to help find pollution.
Written by: Cassie Payne & Niki Chouinard
