Scientists vs Carp, Round 1

[SeleucusNicator]

Linkage.

Genetic killer to destroy species
By SIMON BEVILACQUA
08feb04

SCIENTISTS have successfully bred a first-generation genetically modified terminator fish which could wipe out European carp, the scourge of the Murray River.

A Hobart laboratory, working at the leading edge of DNA technology, hopes it is the first step in controlling some of Australia's worst environmental pests.

The terminator fish released into the wild has potential to wipe out such species as European carp and mosquito fish.

The fish have been genetically manipulated to produce male offspring.

Leading the work is Ron Thresher, head of a team of six scientists at the CSIRO's Marine Research Division laboratory in Hobart.

Using a $3 million grant from the Murray Darling Basin Commission, the scientists are perfecting a technique which prevents the fish from developing female embryos.

"It's a matter of blocking the enzyme which turns the fish female," Dr Thresher said.

The team has taken a strand of the fish DNA, reversed it, and replaced it in the fish genome.

Carp were introduced into Australia more than 100 years ago and now dominate the Murray Darling Basin, making up 90 per cent of the fish biomass in sections of the river system. Research is conducted under licence from the Office of Gene Technology Regulator.

The first generation of terminator fish have been bred and a further three or four generations will be produced to find the best techniques.

Scientists around the world are closely monitoring the Hobart results. If successful, the work could have a huge impact on controlling marine pests around the globe.

The Hobart lab's focus has been to perfect the technique on Japanese rice fish and mosquito fish. Once successful, it will be adapted to the European carp.

The smaller fish species have been chosen because they are easier to handle and require smaller lab facilities.

But the work is not without its critics. Gene Ethics Network spokesman Bob Phelps says GM solutions to pest problems are simplistic.

"These blokes have no understanding of what's happening in the environment. They need to be studying the ecology of the Murray Darling, rather than genetic engineering, which treats the animal as a machine."

Dr Thresher said the Hobart facility was using leading-edge technology and was one of the most advanced aquariums in the world.

Interesting. GM, largely banned or protested in Europe, is being used to wipe out a European species. Oh, the irony...

 

[Goober]

If it works, maybe they could GM a fish to be a source of food, like produce a lot of meat, that could help solve some of the world's hunger problems . . .

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

Hmmm, I wonder if this explains Sweden's negative birth rate?

 

[Torakami_Bltzen]

In my opinion, a lot of the world's hunger problems would be solved by better governments, not GM fish!

I like the term "terminator fish" by the way.

 

[Mrogreturns]

There was a horrible incident in which several scientists and lab staff died after one of them tried to flush a terminator fish down the toilet. None of them go in for sushi much anymore either.

 

[Norseone]

This is hilarious! Instead of genetically engineering fish that produce more food....lets make some that kill other fish!

I like how these guys think

 

[hsiehtm]

The fish have been genetically manipulated to produce male offspring.

Leading the work is Ron Thresher, head of a team of six scientists at the CSIRO's Marine Research Division laboratory in Hobart.

Using a $3 million grant from the Murray Darling Basin Commission, the scientists are perfecting a technique which prevents the fish from developing female embryos.

"It's a matter of blocking the enzyme which turns the fish female," Dr Thresher said.

The team has taken a strand of the fish DNA, reversed it, and replaced it in the fish genome.

Didn't these people watch Jurassic Park?

 

[The Person]

Using one pest to get rid of another pest? Oh, they're made to not produce female offspring, so they won't reproduce.
Well, if people are against genetically altered food, this seems the only way.

 

[bobgote]

this is a much better method than the way the north became infested with cane toads

 

[Pirate]

"She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
she swallowed the bird to catch the spider that squiggled and wriggled and jiggled inside her,
she swallowed the spider to catch the fly,
I don't know why she swalloed the fly,
I guess she'll die..."

This is a quick fix that shows how little we know about ecology.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

Originally posted by Pirate

This is a quick fix that shows how little we know about ecology.

No, it's not.

The terminator carp cannot reproduce for more than one generation. They only produce male offspring. This is not akin to introducing an entire new alien species to wipe out another new alien spieces.

If anything, it shows how much we have learned about ecology from our past mistakes.

 

[Pirate]

Originally posted by SeleucusNicator


No, it's not.

The scientists are still looking at the situation as "Species A is the problem. Eliminate species A and problem is solved."

Ecology teaches us to look at the situation wholistically. Each species has different needs for food and habitat. They have different lifecycles and affect different species in unique ways. One cannot assume that by collapsing one node of the web of interactions the rest will just fall into place. There needs to be a comprehensive look at the effects on the food chain, availability of habitat, and the restoration of support species that may also have been affected by the proliferation of the European Carp or will be affected by the release of the "terminator" fish.

They have taken safeguards, but they are not working on a wholistic solution.

 

[Double Barrel]

Poor carp. What did they ever do to anyone?

Interesting story, though. We live in interesting times, indeed.

 

[luiz]

I fail to see how the scientist lack the understanding of ecology. They are highly qualified researchers dealing with cutting-edge technology, I'm pretty sure they understand more about ecology then this Bob Phelps fellow, who talks like a moronic teenager.

The fish cannot reproduce for over one generation. It will wipe out the carp, and then disappear. Where's the problem?

Why is it that everytime a major development takes place there are dozens of middle-age minded folks screaming that it is witchcraft?

 

[Pirate]

Originally posted by luiz
I fail to see how the scientist lack the understanding of ecology. They are highly qualified researchers dealing with cutting-edge technology, I'm pretty sure they understand more about ecology then this Bob Phelps fellow, who talks like a moronic teenager.

The fish cannot reproduce for over one generation. It will wipe out the carp, and then disappear. Where's the problem?

Why is it that everytime a major development takes place there are dozens of middle-age minded folks screaming that it is witchcraft?

The scientists that made this breakthrough are highly educated, yes, but in the realm of genetic engineering - they are the ones that engineered them to produce only male offspring. These people work in laboratories and do not deal with ecological preservation and restoration on a daily basis.

I'm not saying this is not an important advance. I'm saying it was not clear from the article that it is planned to be implemented in the context of a more comprehensive strategy to restore the ecosystem. I am warning that using the terminator fish as a silver bullet is a very limited way to examine the problem.

If the terminator wipes out the carp then disappear it disturbs the ecosystem. When the exotic species took over, the baseline shifted. The balance between species, not just the carp, but the insects, plants, and other fish and animals changed too. To eliminate the carp and then the terminator is not the entire solution. They must also bring back the other species that were affected back to their previous levels and there is no guarantee that this will happen naturally if the exotic species has damaged it to unrecoverable levels.

 

[allhailIndia]

I am a bit uneasy about this whole idea of GM fish taking on pests. Gives scope for some dangerous stuff, with results we may not be able to control easily.