Enviros are warning that a breed of genetically modified (GM) fish that can grow up to 10 times faster than normal could taint the gene pool and upset delicate ecosystems. A U.S. company, AF Protein, developed the variety of Atlantic salmon by inserting growth hormone genes from another kind of fish. The company expects the U.S. government to clear the fish for consumption within a year, making it the first GM animal to gain that distinction. AF Protein claims that all of the fish are infertile, but critics say it’s impossible to guarantee sterility, and they worry about what could happen if some escaped into the wild. In December, researchers warned that just one escaped GM fish could wipe out local populations of the species.
