Scientist who created genetically engineered salmon didn’t think he’d live to see it approved

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He didn’t believe it would happen in his lifetime.

In fact, Canadian scientist Garth Fletcher, 79, didn’t even think his grandchildren would live to see the day when his creation — the world’s first genetically modified fish intended for the dinner table — would be approved for consumption.

That’s why the scientist is still in shock more than a week after an “out-of-the-blue” email landed in his inbox.

It carried the news that, after deliberating since 1995, American regulators had given their blessing to the controversial fish, allowing the U.S. sale of AquaBounty AquAdvantage salmon.

Fletcher began collaborating with other scientists to invent the transgenic animal in 1982. The road to approval has been obstructed by politics and bureaucracy, an ongoing lawsuit launched by Canadian activists, and the constant swell of heartache each time the salmon appeared to be swimming toward deregulation only to be slapped downstream again.

Looking back at his history with the fish, Fletcher adopts a tone of academic detachment and calls the journey “interesting” and “a bit of fun,” something that won grant money, got papers published and gave graduate students a raison d’être.

More seriously, he adds: “It’s out there now. It’s like having a child born and seeing it as an adult.”

Read full, original post: Canadian scientist thrilled to the gills by U.S. approval of genetically modified salmon

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