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Natasha
Ibu Alissa
Biology 10
November 25, 2014
Enviropigs
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are plants or animals which
genes has been engineered using the DNA of a bacteria, virus or other
plants and animals ("GMODefinition."). GMO is not a new technology as it
has been as it has existed for over 20 years and the rate of foods which
ingredient has been genetically modifies is up to 70% in the United States
("The Facts About GMO."). GMOs are usually designed to solve a certain
problem, like pest control in plants or creating more supply of meat in
animals. One of the examples of GMO thats going to be discussed here is
the Enviropig.
An Enviropig is a genetically engineered Yorkshire pig. The Enviropig
is first a project held by the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada but
later on the trademark was hold by the Ontario Pork organization
("Enviropig."). The first line of Enviropigs failed due to a certain gene that
could be unstable during the reproduction process, so the scientist
created a new transgenic line to solve the problem called the Cassie line
(American Society of Animal Science.). An Enviropig is produced when the
chromosome of a Yorkshire pig was injected with a murine (mouse) parotid
secretory protein promoter and the Escherichia coli phytase gene, which is
responsible for breaking down phosphorus inside the pigs body ("Enviropig
- Technology."). The function of the murine parotid secretory protein

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promoter is to make the gene of the Escherichia coli phytase gene to work
in mammals as the promoter functions as a section of the DNA that
encourages replication of a specific segment, in this case the Escherichia
coli phytase gene (Minard). The Escherichia coli phytase gene caused the
salivary glands of the pig to produce an enzyme called phytase, causing
the enzyme to be present in the saliva of the pig, so when food is
consumed, it will got mixed into the food. As the phytase enzyme is most
active in acidic condition, when it enters the stomach with the food, it will
digest the phytate molecules, commonly known as phosphorus, which is
contained in grains, which are the main food source for pigs ("Enviropig Technology.").
As it is said before, GMOs are mostly a result of a program to solve a
certain problem. This particular GMO, the Enviropigs, is a solution to solve
the problem caused by the Yorkshire pigs. Phosphorus is an important
nutrient for pigs healthy growth as it plays a key role in the formation of
bones, teeth and other organs (Minard). In grains, 50-70% of it is in a form
of phytic acid, which is indigestible by pigs, causing its feces to contain a
lot of phosphorus (American Society of Animal Science.). With the right amount,
phosphorus could be good for the water, but when too many is present, it
could cause an algal bloom. A rapid production of algae reduces the
amount of oxygen in water, creating dead zones for fish and other
organisms (Minard).
Through an experiment, it was proved that the urine and feces
created by the Enviropigs contains 65% less phosphorus in it. The first
attempt to solve this problem is to feed the pigs with supplements that

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contains phytase enzyme, but this supplements are really expensive and
could easily be destroyed or damaging towards the pig when farmers mix
feed it with the food. So the Enviropig doesnt just solve environmental
issue, but also economical issues because they dont need to be fed
supplements since they could produce their own enzyme in heir salivary
glands (American Society of Animal Science.). It also helps farmers to comply
with the zero discharge rule in the U.S. that allows no nitrogen and
phosphorus runoff from animal anymore (Minard).
Though the Enviropigs could solve multiple problems we are facing,
some people think that it shouldnt exist. The first issue caused by this
GMO is the fact that some researchers say that the enzyme produced by it
is known to be an allergen to humans and could cause allergies to some
people. With this information out, people wouldnt want to buy the pork
meat of Enviropig, which would cause the business to fail. Not only will it
cause the business to fail, but also it will threaten the pork market as
people will be afraid to buy an kind if pork meat as they are afraid that the
meat might come from an Enviropig. Some people also think that by using
the Enviropig, it causes people to be lazier and doesnt improve their
attitude towards a greener earth (Hancock).
In conclusion, the Enviropigs are mainly design to solve the problem
cause by the Yorkshire pigs, as their feces and urine are contaminating
water sources. But as everything is a two side of a coin, the Enviropig also
causes ethical and social issues around the community as most peoples
reaction are pretty negative. In April 2012, Dr. Cecil Forsberg, the
inventor of Enviropig said, I had the feeling in seven or eight or nine

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years that transgenic animals probably would be acceptable. But I was
wrong. Its time to stop the program until the rest of the world catches
up. (Pollack). This project was then disbanded at June 2012, but the
semen from the pig was collected so when the world is ready to accept a
transgenic organism, the Enviropig could still be created (American Society of
Animal Science.). So when modifying an organism, whether its a plant or
animal, we should always pay attention of the different aspect of it, like
the moral, environmental and social issues it will cause towards the
community.

Works Cited
American Society of Animal Science. "Scientists improve transgenic 'Enviropigs'." Science
Daily. Science Daily, 7 March 2013.
"Enviropig." Ontario Pork. Ontario Pork, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
"Enviropig - Technology." University of Guelph. University of Guelph, n.d. Web. 22 Nov.
2014.
"TheFactsAboutGMO."TheFactsAboutGMO.TheGroceryManufacturersAssociation,
n.d.Web.23Nov.2014.
"GMODefinition."Dictionary.com.Dictionary.com,n.d.Web.23Nov.2014.
Hancock,Tony."Enviropig:TheNearCatastropheYouDontKnowAbout."EthicalOcean.

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EthicalOcean,31May2012.Web.18Nov.2014.
Minard, Anne. "Gene-Altered "Enviropig" to Reduce Dead Zones?" National Geographic.
National Geographic Society, 30 Mar. 2010. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.
Pollack, Andrew. "Move to Market Gene-Altered Pigs in Canada Is Halted." The New York
Times. The New York Times, 03 Apr. 2012. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.