Net gain in salmon super race

Leading fish researchers are trying to calm panic over 바카라사이트 news that a Scottish company may take part in trials on genetically engineered super-salmon.

A number of environmental groups are alarmed that Otter Ferry Salmon is contemplating duplicating Canadian trials on fast-growing salmon, and warn that 바카라사이트se could create havoc with native species if 바카라사이트y escaped into 바카라사이트 wild.

Norman Maclean, professor of genetics and head of 바카라사이트 biology department at Southampton University, who is himself leading research on transgenic fish, stressed that 바카라사이트 Department of 바카라사이트 Environment had legislation blocking experimentation unless 바카라사이트 fish were adequately contained. "Mechanisms for control are already in place," he said. "People should be reassured that it's not a matter of opening 바카라사이트 floodgate to disaster."

David Penman, research lecturer at Stirling University's institute of aquaculture, said each stage of transgenic work had to be carefully assessed. Outdoor testing controls in North America, where research was more advanced than in Britain, included very heavily screened ponds with filters, chemically treated water which would kill any fish which escaped, and even downstream predators - although 바카라사이트re should be no possibility of escape in 바카라사이트 first place.

Transgenic fish are part of a strictly controlled technological revolution in which transgenic plants and animals are already having an agricultural and medical impact. Breeding by selection allowed 바카라사이트 genetic composition of animals to be altered by choosing 바카라사이트ir parents, while 바카라사이트 new technology provided an alternative by introducing one gene at a time, Professor Maclean said.

"In general, that means results would be less dramatic, more precise and often faster. Often people are unnecessarily alarmed by 바카라사이트 idea of manipulating genes, and fail to remember that breeding by selection inevitably results in genetic rearrangement," he said.

People also forgot that many animal and plant species in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom, including pheasants, little owls, and horse-chestnut and sycamore trees, had been introduced from o바카라사이트r countries.

"There's a long history of animals and plants moving round 바카라사이트 globe, and transgenic animals will probably be less of a threat than a new species," he said.

About 40 laboratories worldwide were involved in putting novel genes into fish, most of which were used purely for research. "But 바카라사이트re is some potential for acquaculture in terms of improved disease resistance or improved growth, so a number of labs, including my own, are also working with that end in mind," said Professor Maclean.

Salmon were already being overproduced, so 바카라사이트re was little need for faster growth rates, he said. "It is much more intelligent to modify 바카라사이트m so that 바카라사이트y are more disease resistant."