Genetically-modified salmon show behavioral differences from wild fish

"TechKnow" contributor Cara Santa Maria traveled to the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans to study the differences between wild Atlantic salmon and their genetically-modified, farm-raised counterparts. Research scientist Dr. Robert Devlin explains that, in addition to growing at nearly twice the rate of wild salmon, genetically-modified fish also show marked behavior differences.

"The wild type of fish will show a normal predator avoidance," Devlin explains. "They perceive us as a threat and so they will cluster together at the bottom of the tank and are not that interested in acquiring food."

"This is what you'd expect all the time in nature," Cara observes. "A predator comes up and they get as far away from us as possible."

The GMO fish however, focus only on eating, barely registering the presence of potential predators.

"These transgenic animals are focused only on acquiring food," Devlin says. "Their behavior has been dramatically shifted."

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