The Food and Drug Administration has granted regulatory approval for genetically modified salmon, saying the “food from the fish is safe to eat.” It’s the first genetically modified animal to be approved for human consumption.
The fish in question is AquaAdvantage Salmon from AquaBounty Technologies. The company created its first batch of genetically modified fish in 1989 and sent over safety data to the FDA in 1995, according to The Wall Street Journal. AquaBounty introduces an artificial segment of recombinant DNA (rDNA) into the genetic makeup of Atlantic salmon. The rDNA contains a growth hormone gene from Chinook salmon, which makes the Atlantic salmon grow much more rapidly than their non-genetically engineered counterparts. The fish reach market size in 16 to 18 months rather than the typical three years.
via The Verge
Image: CSIRO/Wikimedia Commons
Exactly one growth hormone, and you get unvetted salmon in 18mos. instead of a year. The huge win is, to get them some current to swim in in so they don’t taste like garfish, you’re doing water-moving cross-fit and are guaranteed the salmon are the ugliest scariest thing in the gym (their feed fry not looking like anything much.)
Hm, apartment water features are probably out since failsafe requires a slaughterhouse of sorts and who’s going to give inspectors tours? Great robot job there. Oh well.