Public Issue Speech: Genetically Modified Animals

Topic: Genetically Modified Animals being approved for human

consumption in the United States

General Purpose: to inform the audience about the pros and cons of
consuming genetically modified animals

Specific Purpose: in regards to their health, the environment, and the

health and well being of the animals that they are consuming

Introduction
A. Normally when we think of the names of animals that we eat for
food, we think of pigs, chickens, turkeys, or salmon. They are
grown on farms or caught in the ocean, and everything seems
pretty natural and relatively normal.
B. BUT now I would like to know how many of you have heard of
enviropigs or AquaAdvantage salmon?

Ethos Step: The Food and Drug Administration does not require
genetically modified foods to be labeled and has already approved one
genetically modified animal for human consumption, so as Americans,
we could be eating genetically modified meat without even knowing it.

Thesis: Genetically modified animals will likely be on the market and

in our grocery stores at some point in the near future, so it is important
to know what that means for us as consumers.

Preview: Today we will first look at what a genetically modified animal

is, and then we will look at the pros and cons of the Enviropig and the
AquaAdvantage salmon when it comes to the environment, health, and
human consumption.

Body
#1:
*image in journal written in August 2015 and published on
Sciencedirect.com
What is a genetically modified animal? FDA defined as powerful
method of introducing desirable traits into animals using
recombinant DNA (or rDNA) technology
means that genes from other animals can be inserted into host
genome, undesirable genes can be deleted from host genome, and
recombination, or rearrangement of genes, can give desired results
#2:
*image taken from University of Guelph article
 Enviropig is GM to produce phytase in salivary glands in order to
breakdown phosphorous in feed; reduces phosphorous in fecal
matter which lowers environmental impact because phosphorous is
dangerous if it enters groundwater; first ex of GM animal for human
conumption
Pro: 33% less land required to spread manure; safer for
groundwater; No longer put phytate or phytase in feed so cheaper
and breaks down more P so better for environment; 60% less
Phosphorous in manure
Con: are GM foods safe?; more expensive initially
Backer pulled funding in 2012 never approved but first step

#3
*image in journal written in August 2015 and published on
Sciencedirect.com
In article published by the FDA on December 8, 2015
AquaAdvantage Salmon approved on November 19, 2015 for
human consumption; bred in Canada, raised in Panama, and
imported to U.S. contain Chinook Salmon growth hormone & genetic
switch from ocean pout
2 years before they reach American plates & only 100 tons/year in
comparison to 200,000 tons in U.S./year
Pro: grown inland (less stress on environment bc no ocean pens),
grow 2x faster (18-20 months vs. 28-36)
Con: could escape & out-compete wild salmon; not have to be
labeled as GM

Conclusion
Internal Review
In conclusion, genetically modified animals for human consumption
is a real possibility that could very easily become a common
occurrence in the future.
First we learned what exactly a genetically modified animal is, then
we learned of a failed genetically modified animal, and finally we
looked at a salmon that could soon end up on your plate.

Concluding Device: So, I hope you learned a little bit about

genetically modified animals for human food production and why it is
so important that we learn more about these animals to be informed
about what could end up in our grocery stores. Thank you.
 WorksCited

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<http://www.uoguelph.ca/enviropig/index.shtml>.

Lievens,M.Petrillo,M.Querci,A.Patak.Geneticallymodifiedanimals:Optionsand

issuesfortraceabilityandenforcement.TrendsinFoodScience&Technology.

44.2Aug.2015.159176.Web.18Feb.2016.

<http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924224415001223>.

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2012.Web.19Feb.2016.

<http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCABRE83110320120402?

sp=true>.

Pollack,Andrew."GeneticallyEngineeredSalmonApprovedforConsumption."The

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<http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/20/business/geneticallyengineeredsalmon

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"U.S.FoodandDrugAdministration."ConsumerQ&A.8Dec.2015.Web.19Feb.

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<http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/GeneticEn

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