What are your thoughts on the genetically altered GloFish?

Question

Would you buy one or not, and why? Do you think its wrong?

Answer 1

I personally have no problem with this particular genetic manipulation as it does no harm to the fish. Some I have problems with, some not, but this one no.

MM

Answer 2

I don't think there is anything wrong with glofish...I've had them for awhile now and they are a very colorful addition to any tank. I have long finned red danios in with my koi angels and and running nose tetras....they are a nice fish to watch and get along well in a community tank...I find that they aren't any different then any other danios I've ever had....as far as the genetics go the added gene has not altered anything other then their color...it didn't change personality, temperament, life span, health issues or their own personal happiness so what is all the fuss? All the people out there having all these issues need to read ALL the info out there before they go blasting these fish out of the water. The FDA has NO problem with these fish, Fish and Game NO problems.
These fish are a little pricey right now but well worth the investment.

Answer 3

Do you object to all genetically altered living things or just these little Danios? Humans have been genetically altering plants and animals for thousands of years. Just about any fish that's considered "fancy",Angelfish,Koi, Guppies,Long-fin Whiteclouds,Bettas,Swordtails,Platys,Flowerhorns,Red Parrot Cichlids,and any other fish that doesn't exist in the wild is somehow genetically altered. Selective breeding,hybridizing,or manipulation of the DNA,it's all genetic alteration. What about almost everything we eat.Have you ever seen wild wheat or a field of corn that grew from the wild? Chickens were genetically altered by selective breeding of a jungle fowl. Or do you just object to some methods of genetic alteration. If so what are they and why do you object? People in Europe drink irradiated milk that will keep on a shelf in the store for 6 to 9 months,and only need refrigeration after it's opened. But they won't eat our genetically altered grain. I don't know if it's right or wrong,but it's really nothing new. As to whether I'd buy a genetically altered fish,probably not,I prefer to keep fish that look like the ones that live wild,but that's just me. I've never cared for the selective bred "fancy" strains.

Answer 4

As I understand it, they were altered by adding genes from sea anemones. Here is a web site that answers most questions and concerns about them:

http://www.fishmartinc.com/glofish.htm

The color does not harm them, it does not fade and when they spawn, the color comes through in the next generation.

IMHO they are way overpriced for a zebra that breeds true. They also have green and yellow ones now. They are very pretty though and if they weren't so pricey, I would definitely buy some.

I don't think it is wrong because they were originally produced quite a few years ago to detect pollution in the environment (don't ask me how they detect it, that's just what I read) and they only started selling them to the public in the last couple of years.

Answer 5

Well, I bought three when they first came out, but I was teaching college courses and bought them specifically for use in a non-majors biology class for a section dealing with genetically modified organisms. I also discussed them in a lecture on water pollution - what they were originally produced for.

The anemone or coral gene (both are used to produce different colors) is attached to a stressor gene - when the fish is exposed to stressful conditions, along with normal enzymes that would be produced (similar to adrenalin in humans), they glow. I guess I can see the potential in using them as a method of determining and/or monitoring water quality in areas that may not be able to afford chemical or mechanical testing, plus once they purchase the original fish, additional and replacement fish can be spawned (the gene is inherited as a dominant trait).

The fish in the aquarium trade is different, however, than what's used for monitoring water quality. These have the gene "turned on" permanently. I haven't kept the new strains, but with the original, they could glow "brighter" when stressed. The gene doesn't hurt the fish, and supposedly doesn't hurt others that might eat them (have yet to see any studies on this yet!). But since they are additionally modified for the pet trade, I see this as another way of capitalizing on a public who want something "different" to keep.

If I would ever teach a class similar to the biology or environmental classes I've taught in the past, I might consider purchasing them again (for educational purposes), but not to have in my personal tanks.

Answer 6

personally i love danios, i have a school of blue longfins in my showtank,
as for glowfish, they arent hurting anyone, they act normal, assimilate into other danio groups without any notice at all, and are kinda cute, im not a pink fish sorta guy but they are a great alternative to painted glassfish and those ugly azz tatood molies

having worked in a fish store for several years and seeing beginers come and go and get frustrated i think its good to have a hardy fish available that begginers can see as beautiful right off the bat,

god knows some of the fish i spend way too much money on, a novice hobbyist would think im crazy for buying, so you have to start somewhere

Answer 7

They are cool.

I don't like injecting dyes into fish, like strawberry and blueberry tetras, thats cruel.

But the danios can be made to glo without any harm to them.

Answer 8

I guess theyre not much diffrent from original ones

Answer 9

Tastes like nuclear chicken.

Answer 10

if you are questioning this then you must feel something about it! How you feel about it is much more inportant than how we feel about it!