Genetically Engineered Fish

[JamieBailie]

They weren't made for the aquarium. From what I know about them (Very little) They were designed to show contaminated water, They change colour when the water is contaminated with something.

Quote from wiki: "Their goal was to develop a fish that could detect pollution by selectively fluorescing in the presence of environmental toxins."

 

[madgap]

i think to give a child a smile filled with wonder as he watches in the dark staring at fish that are glowing is worth it,

there is always a good and bad u kno?

I see my daughter's face light up with wonder when she see real fish. Normal fish. Not man's ideas of what would be better.
Why can't peope just be content with the beauty that is already existing without distorting it?

 

[merry78]

Why can't peope just be content with the beauty that is already existing without distorting it?

exactly.

 

[Luketendo]

Why can't peope just be content with the beauty that is already existing without distorting it?

exactly.

exactly.

 

[ShoC]

These fish were genetically altered for an environmental benefit for detecting pollution,
but I think it was a big mistake to sell them publicly to people to own,
the risk of (Novelty comes to mind) then forgotten and left to die (ones the novelty fact wears off)

I know that they are under no danger or harm but the fact the gene is passed down could be potentially devastating)

a small passage about their use.

"How exactly do GloFish® fluorescent zebra fish help in the fight against pollution?
To achieve their goal of helping to fight water pollution, scientists are in the process of adding a "switch" that will cause the always fluorescing GloFish® zebra fish to selectively fluoresce in the presence of environmental toxins. A non-fluorescing fish will signal that the water is safe, while a fluorescing fish will signal trouble. Although these fish are not currently available, scientists hope to complete this work soon. To help further the research, a portion of the proceeds from sales of all GloFish® fluorescent fish goes directly to the lab where these fish were created. For more information on this application, please review the article entitled “Zebra Fish as Pollution Indicators,â€￾ by the National University of Singapore on our GloFish® Science page."



anyone interested in their website its as follows.

http/www.glofish.com/about.asp#science_5



just my 2 cent I think its a shame on anyone who buys them, it only fuels the desire for genetically altered fish and make them think more about chances for money (more oddities made)
And lets be honest fish don't get the protection they deserve (same as any other animals)

Carl

took me three attempts to spell my name properly


EDIT:
http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi1beTgibsk...ted&search=

small video of them,
Now anyone who can tell me it looks normal is mad,

It just isn't natural it's so horrible.

 

[ArauraDiscus]

As long as they don't get loose I suppose I don't have a problem with it. Also as long as these guys dont suffer, then I suppose it's fine as well. But playing God is a very dangerous thing. WHo knows what will happen and what will be next.

 

[Teelie]

It's astounding how so many members proclaim and dictate what is and is not "acceptable" and how man shouldn't "mess with God's creation" and yet many have animals bred that are definitely not "God's intended" way. How many own Goldfish? Bettas? Any breed of long finned fish? Dogs? Cats? How about food? The domestic cow is not too much like the original animal. Pigs either. Nor are horses. Or chickens or turkeys. Same for many of the fruits and vegetables. They are not the way they were in the wild. If you're going to make proclamations like that then I suggest you start re-thinking a few of your choices.

Genetic modifications have been going on since there was a civilization. This is the next step and for better or worse it is not going to go away because you don't like it or understand it.

 

[Ilya]

Breeding is natural. But you don't see God pumping Chemicals and Genes into His creations.

 

[GuppyDude]

The fish are sterile to begin with, its impossible for them to reproduce. They are created in a laboratory, wouldn't last in the wild even if they did get loose. They aren't in my taste, but i see nothing wrong with them at all. The fish aren't suffering, and they've aided science in the understanding of genetics. This is knowledge that could be of good use one day. It is an active debate amongst the the hobby, and I'm sure you'll find a ton of interesting argument throughout the fish forum here as well as the web.

Genetic modifications have been going on since there was a civilization.

False, the domestication of pigs, dogs, chickens, est. was the result of selective breeding, not genetic modification. Genetic modification i believe was started in the late 40's (or 50's maybe) to increase the yield of food crops such as corn. The results of this sloppy experimentation have indeed plagued natural elements of the environment, which is the main reason why people are always so skeptical of is positive or simply experimental application in science. But, i don't see how glofish are going to have any affect on the natural world. I guess the bulk of the con argument falls into ethics and morals; not my cup of tea.

 

[Teelie]

Without genes and chemicals, there can be no life though. Life is made up of genes. Cross-breeding is also something that happens all the time. Mules are a good example.

 

[I Love my fishies]

"Over the past few months, a number of shops in the UK have had bright pink Zebra danios in stock which bear a striking resemblance to the genetically modified GloFish. "

see link: http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...g.php?blogid=34

 

[ArauraDiscus]

Nor are horses. Or chickens or turkeys.

=============================

Horses chickens, horses, and turkeys are almost identical to their wild counterparts actually. Very little change. Look at the wild bronocs, Heath Hens, and wild turkeys, not a huge difference other than some variations in color.

Also to the person who says they are sterile and won't reproduce. Did you know that 1 percent of donkeys, parrot fish and other not natural and "sterile" animals are actually not sterile. As a species they may be sterile, but if the individuals who are not sterile find each other, they will reproduce. A famous qoute from Jurassic park may or may not put it in perspective. Life WILL find a way. Just wait and see. Also in adition, sterility is an ailment that can cause tons of suffering. You may not feel sterility but when you try to have a baby and it just won't happen, won't your instincts feel betrayed, and won't you feel more than just emotionally awkward.

Most organisms have about 3 drives. 3 things keep them alive. To Eat, Reproduce, Survive. Sterlizing them takes away 1/3 of what makes them a living being.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Just a little nit-picking:
Broncos are not wild horses, they are descended from tame horses. The fact that horses are living wild doesn't mean they haven't been selectively bred at some stage. The only truly wild horses I know about are the Przewalskis horses from Mongolia and they do look quite different.

And donkeys are not sterile hybrids, they are a natural species in their own right. I think you might be thinking about mules.

About the glofish, I haven't got much opinion either way. Wouldn't want them in my tanks. To me the interest in fish lies in the way they have evolved to cope with different habitats.

 

[fry_lover]

Breeding is natural. But you don't see God pumping Chemicals and Genes into His creations.

LOL, i dont see God much at all come to think of it

 

[andywg]

just my 2 cent I think its a shame on anyone who buys them, it only fuels the desire for genetically altered fish and make them think more about chances for money (more oddities made)

It also puts money in the coffers of a company trying to develop an early warning system for water quality. Millions of people still do not have access to reliably clean water, this could help them.

It just isn't natural it's so horrible.

Very much my thoughts on fish like the hideously deformed tails of many bettas. No outcry against them though...

Breeding is natural. But you don't see God pumping Chemicals and Genes into His creations.

You don't see god full stop. And surely if you think god created life, he himself invented genes, and our ability to manipulate them.

Also to the person who says they are sterile and won't reproduce. Did you know that 1 percent of donkeys, parrot fish and other not natural and "sterile" animals are actually not sterile. As a species they may be sterile, but if the individuals who are not sterile find each other, they will reproduce. A famous qoute from Jurassic park may or may not put it in perspective. Life WILL find a way. Just wait and see. Also in adition, sterility is an ailment that can cause tons of suffering. You may not feel sterility but when you try to have a baby and it just won't happen, won't your instincts feel betrayed, and won't you feel more than just emotionally awkward.

Have you been watching Jurassic Park? "Life WILL find a way"? lolz

If that were to happen here it would go against Darwin. Those fish stand out very much in a crowd, something tells me they are going to be subject to predation before the natural fish.