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...or the introducend gene combined with some previously existing genes will create an unexpected feature which will dominate the species and wipe out specimens
by mr__y 7y ago
...or the introducend gene combined with some previously existing genes will create an unexpected feature which will dominate the species and wipe out specimens without it[0].
I believe we don't know enough (yet) to take a risk of such experiments in the wild. More, I think that possibly even proper assesment of such risk is currently not possible
[0] while this scenario is probably very unlikely I'm not sure that such risk should be taken
- folli 7y agoThe gene pool of a species is much more dynamic than you assume in your scenario. Combinations, deletions, mutations, introduction of new genes from other species is very common on biological timelines. To put it as an optimization problem: a huge portion of the search space has been (and is actively being) searched already, with the current species as the optimal solution for the given ecological niche. Changing the genomic setup will with a high likelihood move away from this optimum, rendering your "new" species less fit for its niche.