Scientists from Memorial University have found their genetically engineered salmon could potentially enter wild populations through natural interbreeding. MUN has been experimenting with male fish carrying a growth gene that causes them to grow twice as fast as regular salmon, and has found that these modified salmon can engage in normal breeding behavior and breed with wild females under natural conditions. So far no genetically modified salmon have ever escaped into the wild and it isn’t clear how well they would survive. But the researchers believe it is important to ensure there is never the opportunity to find out.
