Curiosity101
Is now at University! :D
Having almost finished my genetics degree I can promise you MBOU that your worries aren't really justified.
There are regulations in place to say what can and can't be done via genetics modification (so no snowballing of anything). Genetic modification is done with ALL sorts of genes. And so long as it's for sound research reasons then it's allowed. I even genetically modified some bacteria in my second year (simpler than in animals but same theory).
The only real difference between us and the USA is that they are allowed to sell GM animals to some extent. Where as we have a ban on all GM animal sales. But America still have laws in place on GM animals, they don't have free rein to create and sell whatever they want. Also considering how easy it is to do, as in as a 3rd year geneticist I could insert a gene into an animal near enough on my own... you would be seeing all of these things you feared by now if it were going to snowball.
Final point, they don't glow unless they're under black light. And if they do get released they arne't camouflaged so will be predated on in much higher numbers than the native species. The result is that the gene for the colour is a deleterious trait and so never increases above a very low threshold of frequency.
GM versus Line breeding/cross breeding are two very different things. Cross breeding and line breeding isn't regulated. GM is very tightly regulated.
Edit: Just to add I personally wouldn't buy them. I like to stick to more natural fish but I do pick and choose what line breeding fish I'll have. I wont keep anything crossbred or linebred to the disadvantage of the animal (this goes for anything...fish...dogs...). Everything else though, to me, is fair game.
There are regulations in place to say what can and can't be done via genetics modification (so no snowballing of anything). Genetic modification is done with ALL sorts of genes. And so long as it's for sound research reasons then it's allowed. I even genetically modified some bacteria in my second year (simpler than in animals but same theory).
The only real difference between us and the USA is that they are allowed to sell GM animals to some extent. Where as we have a ban on all GM animal sales. But America still have laws in place on GM animals, they don't have free rein to create and sell whatever they want. Also considering how easy it is to do, as in as a 3rd year geneticist I could insert a gene into an animal near enough on my own... you would be seeing all of these things you feared by now if it were going to snowball.
Final point, they don't glow unless they're under black light. And if they do get released they arne't camouflaged so will be predated on in much higher numbers than the native species. The result is that the gene for the colour is a deleterious trait and so never increases above a very low threshold of frequency.
GM versus Line breeding/cross breeding are two very different things. Cross breeding and line breeding isn't regulated. GM is very tightly regulated.
Edit: Just to add I personally wouldn't buy them. I like to stick to more natural fish but I do pick and choose what line breeding fish I'll have. I wont keep anything crossbred or linebred to the disadvantage of the animal (this goes for anything...fish...dogs...). Everything else though, to me, is fair game.
/www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14882008
