Posted by Brad on December 04, 2003 at 15:22:29:
In Reply to: It's a blow it. posted by seahunt on December 04, 2003 at 08:07:22:
I have a different take on the issue. If the commission had sanctioned the sale of the GM fish and the company were to experience a windfall on the sales of the fish, where would the gold rush lead? The incentive to experiment with other species would be so financially compelling that the end result may very well have unintended consequences that would be very detrimental to the environment or other species.
Fish, unlike dogs are all different species and therefore cannot reproduce with species other than their own. That may be a natural hedge from the genetic alterations expanding beyond that particular specie, but let's say for argument sake that they try it with a native specie and that specie is allowed to comingle with the wild variety. That would alter the native specie forever as the genes would be passed on. What if native predators were to prey on a GM specie such as the ones in question? How do they know that the urchin genes wouldn't be harmful.
I don't trust the people who are seeking to exploit frivolous genetic technology for profit. Ultimately, the proceeds will go to a very few individuals with absolutely no liability or guarantee of safety to our shared environment.
They are toying with something that is not well enough understood to unleash it into the wild, which is exactly where some of those fish will end up.