Genetically modified animals: Scientific revolution or crime against nature? | 60 Minutes Australia

The Rise of Super-Salmon00:00:00

Introduction to genetically modified organisms in the food chain, focusing on Dr. Garth Fletcher's genetically modified salmon, which grow up to ten times faster than their wild counterparts by utilizing growth genes from other species.

Debating Risks and Environmental Impact00:03:11

Critic Andrew Kimbrell and other environmentalists warn against the 'frankenfish' phenomenon, highlighting concerns regarding potential allergies, toxicity, and the catastrophic ecological risk if these modified creatures escape and interbreed with native species.

Xenotransplantation and Human-Animal Hybrids00:05:42

Exploration of Dr. David Ayers' work in Virginia, where pigs are being genetically engineered to provide human-compatible organs for transplant, potentially solving organ shortage crises while raising ethical questions and concerns about cross-species disease transmission.

Ethical Limits and Future Implications00:10:31

The debate intensifies over the ethics of 'playing God' by crossing species boundaries, with critics citing past failures like the Beltsville pigs and the unpredictable nature of genetic cloning, versus supporters who view this as a logical evolution of selective breeding.