ICS Inter-Community School Library: Sciences: GMO Salmon Debate

Keywords and Debate Questions

Keywords: GMO Salmon; Frankenfish; Genetically Modified Organism; Aqua Bounty Technology; Over-fishing; Dialogue; Solutions

Possible Research/Debate Questions:

Can GMO salmon improve our health as well as reduce the negative impacts of overfishing?
How can we reduce the global problem of overfishing and reduce the risk of a fishery collapse?
What role should GMO Salmon play in reducing the global problem of overfishing and reduce the risk of a fishery collapse?

Discussion Prompt

What are the proposed solutions that GMO Salmon will give us? Discuss the environmental, economic, cultural and ethical implications of all proposed solutions.

Click here for the Debate Outline

What is GMO -Genetically Modified Organism?

Genetically modified (GM) plants
This article discusses about what are genetically modified (GM) plants? Is genetic modification safe? Where are GM crops grown and eaten?
Researcher seeks right GM grow-out
This article covers the research initiative by a Canadian graduate of Memorial University who is testing genetically modified salmon to learn how their rapid, designer growth is affected by temperature...
Environmental Assessment of GMO Salmon
Whether GMO Salmon is harmful or not? Learn from this document prepared by the Center for Veterinary Medicine United States Food and Drug Administration Department of Health and Human Services...
AquAdvantage Salmon
A list of related documents from the US Food & Drug Administration
AquaBounty
AquaBounty—a small company with a bold vision—to raise the world’s finest, most sustainable Atlantic salmon. A fish that is nutritious, delicious, fresh and affordable.
American Fisheries Society
A good number of articles from American Fisheries Society on GMO Salmon and other related GMOs...

Pros/Advantages/Benefits/Merits of Genetically Modified Salmon

AquAdvantage Salmon Fact Sheet from the US Food and Drug
Based on a comprehensive analysis of the scientific evidence, the salmon are safe to eat, the introduced DNA is safe for the fish itself, and the salmon meet the sponsor’s claim about faster growth...
Benefits Arising from the Use of GMOs by FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) listed resources that discuss about GMO benefits...

Cons/Disadvantages/Demerits of Genetically Modified Salmon

Why GM salmon is a health risk?
GM salmon could potentially cause more allergies than regular salmon, Hanson explained, though we can’t be sure, due to a lack of proper studies.
The Dangers of Genetically Engineered Salmon
This document listed a good number of reliable source about the possible danger of GMO Salmon...
Health Risks of Genetically Modified Salmon
According to this article, Research Exposes New Health Risks of Genetically Modified Salmon...
GM Salmon Breed with Trout, Threaten Wild Populations
According to this latest research, results indicate that the GE salmon/wild trout mix would have a competitive advantage over other fish should they escape into rivers and oceans. Since they would grow 80% faster and have increased appetites, these super-fish could voraciously consume much of the available food, causing other wild fish to end up being far smaller.
The environmental risk of GMO Salmon
Why do environmentalists oppose the GMO Salmon? This blog discusses the rational...

Uniform resources (Pros and Cons)

Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Salmon
This article listed Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Salmon...
GMO Salmon: What Are the Issues?
What is the rationale behind genetically engineered salmon? Why have scientists spliced genes from an eel-like creature called the ocean pout into the genome of the Atlantic salmon?
This article discusses about the GMO impacts on Oceans and Wild Salmon and whether it is safe to eat GMO Salmon or not...
The threats and benefits of GM fish
This scholarly article has an in-depth analysis of GMO Salmon, the pros and cons of it...