A/F Protein, Inc

A/F Protein, Inc produces genetically engineered (GE) fish at their Canadian facility called Aquabounty Farms located on Prince Edward Island.

Aquabounty farms are listed as a sister company of AF protein, which has administrative offices in the US. The application to the FDA to approve GE Salmon commercialization has been made in the name of AF Protein.

AF Protein / Aquabounty is reported to have 15 million GE salmon eggs ready for sale.
These fish are capable of growing 4 to 6 times faster than standard salmon grown under the same conditions.The Company's stated goal is to develop fish for aquaculture with improved growth rates and other economically desirable traits.

Inserting growth hormones into Salmon

The entire genetic code is found in every cell in the body, but in most cells only part of the genetic code is ever activated. Genes are activated to produce proteins by adjacent stretches of the genome called promoter sequences. The promoter sequences are responsible for switching on genes in specific areas of the body (eg. in the pancreas or in the adrenal glands).

Growth hormone (GH) is produced in the pituitary when the growth hormone promoter regions activate the growth hormone genes. The dominant phase of GH production (and growth) is during the summer months. To increase the growing season, a gene construct was produced composed of the Chinook salmon gene sequence for growth hormone, linked to the promoter sequence that controls antifreeze production in the ocean pout. By injecting this gene construct into the Atlantic salmon genome at the egg stage, fish that are theoretically capable of producing salmon growth hormone all year round have been developed.

For more information:

A/F Protein Inc. 935 Main Street, Waltham MA 02154 USA
Ph: 781-899-7755 Fax: 781-899-8482
PRESIDENT: Elliot Entis - www.afprotein.com

Aquabounty Farms, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Phone: (902)687-2600 Fax: (902)687-3800
www.aquabounty.com

TAKE ACTION: Add your voice to the call for GE-Free Seas

More information:

Animation showing the dangers of GE fish (requires Flash plugin)
GE fish question and answers
GE fish varieties under development
GE fish - potentially devastating environmental hazard
GE fish - swimming against the tide of reason (pdf document)
Jean-Michel Cousteau's statement on GE fish
Scientists statement on the dangers of GE fish (pdf document)
BC salmon farmers reinforce stance against trangenics - press release from the BC Salmon Farmers Association

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