AquAdvantage Salmon is a line of transgenic Atlantic salmon that was the first to obtain a permit for use in human diet. The aim of the B. Sc. Thesis was to review the published research on topic of genetic modification, comparison of characteristics of transgenic salmon and unmodified salmon, and ethical dilemmas. This transgenic line was created by inserting rDNA, made of an anti-freeze promoter from the ocean pout and of a growth hormone gene from the Chinook salmon. The transgenic salmon has its growth enhanced by more than two fold comparing to unmodified salmon and feed conversion is better by 10%. Transgenic salmon is capable of faster development through the freshwater phase, it has 2,2 times more of intestinal surface area than unmodified salmon, and is a slower swimmer in comparison with wild Atlantic salmon. Body composition of transgenic salmon does not vary from that of unmodified salmon. Tissues of transgenic salmon do not contain dangerous levels of IGF hormone. Risks of producing transgenic salmon are environmental and nutritional. As long as there exists a risk of escaped transgenic salmon, there is a risk for the environment. Opinions about that vary. The public is very opposed to transgenic salmon production, as well as they demand obligatory labelling of food, and more transparent processes of permit review for transgenic animal production to be used in human diet.
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