The notion of modifying organisms
to suit our needs has been the source of inspiration behind novels, movies, and
advancements made in the field of biotechnology. It has been several decades since the advent
of genetically modified crops which are used for industry or for consummation by
people. Initially labeled as a hazard to
us and to non-genetically modified crops, these man made plants were not
welcomed, but having seen their benefits, many welcomed their presence into our
groceries and kitchens.
In her
time TIME article, Grocery Stores will not sell Geneticaly Modified Fish, Alexandra
Sifferlin underscores the conundrum going on among large scale grocery
retailers regarding genetically engineered salmon, infamously known as
“Frankenfish”. These stores have all
joined Genetically Engineered (GE)-Free Seafood, which is a “coalition” of
these stores that are opposed to the sale of this particular genetically
engineered salmon. This new fish is modified
to grow more quickly than its “normal” cousins.
The “manufacturer” of this new beed of fish, AquaBounty’s AquAdvantage, has taken a gene from another species of
salmon, the Chinook salmon, a larger northern fish and imbibed it into
“conventional Atlantic Salmon”. That gene keeps a vital growth hormone
activated rather than shutting it down after a certain point, enabling the
AquAdvantage salmon to grow more quickly than it normally would.
This
would be a precursor to major economic gains for fish farmers and growers in
North America because it would make salmon growing more efficient, thereby
exempting us from having to import a significant amount of salmon (which is in
practice today). It would save our food
providers import costs and save the consumer money, but this genetically modified
friend has been met with opposition.
Sifferlin mentions that many groups greatly opposed genetically modified
crops and attributed it to having dire consequences on our health, but in fact
they really did not have data to support this assertion. She discusses how consumers and famers rallied
against genetically modified potato production until it was dropped in
Germany. The article mentions that,
without even any sort of knowledge of its benefits and drawbacks, 91% of
Americans are opposed to genetically-modified seafood entering the market. Sifferlin notes that Whole Foods has
mentioned that consumers are mostly aiming for non-genetically modified foods. She concludes by stating that AquaBounty’s
“cash flow has been dwindling” and it has enough capital for one more year of
sustenance for the company, but it is moving with meager means.
In her
book, Frankenstein’s Cat, Emily
Anthes discloses her view on people’s close mindedness towards accepting
genetically modified foods and biotechnology.
Referring to the very issue of genetically modified salmon and its
pending approval by the FDA, she mentions that “If the agency ultimately
rejects the fish-or fails to approve them before AquaBounty Runs out of
money-it will have a chilling effect on biotechnological innovation in the
United States, discouraging other scientists and entrepreneurs from developing
new kinds of transgenic animals”(54) She
deems this a “shame” that will prevent us from reaping from the benefits that biotechnology
brings, especially biotechnology that is designated for medical purposes. Anthes
emphasizes that these negative “gut responses” to biotechnology are not “always
grounded in the world or reason” and are a “primitive reaction which has no
inherent wisdom” (49).
It is a must that we as human beings are able to put our
emotions aside and view such a dilemma from a rational perspective, as Anthes
advocates. We need to weigh the
advantages and disadvantages and use logic to work together to make progress,
while of course ensuring that what we doing is moral and that we are bringing
the least pain to any form of life. If
we were close-minded when it came to technological advancements in our history,
the human race would never have attained the technological accolades it has
gained over the years.
Sources:
Anthes, Emily. (2013). Frankenstein's
Cat: Cuddling up to Biotech's Brave New Beasts. New York:
Scientific American, Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Sifferlin, Alexandra(2013)"Grocery Chains Won't Sell Genetically Modified Fish"Time.com
< http://healthland.time.com/2013/03/21/grocery-chains-wont-sell-genetically-modified-fish/>
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