Genetically Modified Salmon

Regarding to your concern about the genetically modified salmon, I have done some researches about that topic so that I can answer all of your questions related to genetically modified salmon. First of all, I would like to share with you general information about “genetically modified” salmon and where “genetically modified” salmon comes from. Under the pressure of food demanding for the global increasing population, for 14 years, AquaBounty Technologies Inc. of Waltham, Mass., has spent around fifty million dollars to create the genetically engineered salmon, which can meet the market weight in half the usual time (Zajac 2010). According to AquaBounty, their genetically engineered salmon completely has the same taste, color, protein, and other nutrients like Omega-3 of non-engineered North Atlantic salmon (Zajac 2010). The differences between AquaBounty’s salmon and non-engineered salmon are AquaBounty’s salmon is able to grow regardless of the weather and just need 18 months (half of the usual time) to reach the 8 pounds market weight (Zajac 2010).

With all the information above, you must wonder how AquaBounty’s salmon can grow faster than normal. Therefore, I am going to address the process of altering the genes of engineered salmon. North Atlantic salmon is a cold-water fish. Its growth hormone is regulated by sunlight, food availability, and water temperature. Normally, the North Atlantic Salmon grows from an egg sac to small fry that is a few grams. Therefore, in its first year, the North Atlantic Salmon does not grow much (McCarthy 2011). However, AquaBounty grow very fast like a trout in its first year. It tells that they have developed some changes in the DNA of the original Atlantic salmon. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) – gene is made up of two strands of nucleotides, twisted around each other in a double helix at the nucleus of a cell. The order of the nucleotides determines hereditary characteristics. DNA molecule is a set of introductions for building...