Introducing Omega 3 fatty acids to pigs is the latest in “pharming,” a process using transgenic animals or plants as a way of delivering supplements and medicine. Beyond heart-healthy bacon, transgenic possibilities abound. Genetically modified grains have properties to treat disease from hepatitis B and herpes, to cholera. (Mindfully, 8 October 2002). Epicyte engineered the world's first contraceptive corn, which contains a form a spermicide (Robin McKie, The Observer, 9 September 2001). Transgenic animal milk can treat a wide range of ailments, from hemophilia to cystic fibrosis to emphysema. Engineers have even developed goat milk that yields plastics and lightweight industrial materials (Randy Vines , Virginia Cooperative Extension, April 2002).

The prospect of spermicidal corn ought to give anyone reason to pause, if only to consider the real purpose of such an endeavor. The purpose of the product itself is clear, but not the relative advantage over conventional methods of spermicide via corn? The advantage would have to be significant to justify development costs of genetic engieering. The very concept of eating corn as a prelude to intercourse is bizarre. It is also unnecessary and risky. The unforeseen health and environmental risks may outweigh the benefits promised by these transgenic varieties. Unlike conventional drugs, transgenic pharmaceuticals are delivered through living entities. One major characteristic of living entities, like plants and animals, is reproduction. It is not something that is easy to manage, even though Biotech companies claim to have complete control. Think Jurassic Park. Or worse, a real life example, think StarLink. StarLink transgenic corn, used for animal feed, accidentally cross-pollinated with conventional corn and made it into the human food supply:

StarLink is the trademark for a type of corn that is genetically altered to resist disease. The suit alleges that the defendants…implemented a marketing and distribution plan…that made it "not only foreseeable but inevitable" that StarLink would both cross-pollinate and be physically commingled with corn produced from non-StarLink corn crops (Associated Press, 9 September 2001).

We have no way of predicting how these new plants will behave when introduced into the environment, commingling with conventional crop varieties. This is especially true for corn, which is a promiscuous cross-pollinater. If biotech companies could not keep its animal-feed corn from taco shells, it isn’t a reach to imagine that we could one day unknowningly consume spermicide with our morning bowl of corn flakes.

The problem is not limited to plants. Again, I'm picturing Jurassic Park. A laboratory animal accidentally released into the environment is not a farfetched scenario. In the 1950's, scientists imported Africanized (Killer) bees from South Africa to Brazil. The hybrid strain of killer bees swarming a large part of this country is a result of cross-breeding between local varieties and South African bees accidentally let loose. Similarly, if transgenic catfish or salmon are accidentally released from their fish prisons, they could create environmental risks. It would be impossible then to isolate the transgenic from conventional varieties as the fish interbreed. The larger pumped-up transgenic fish may push the conventional ones to extinction in several generations.

Beyond the potential benefits that humans might gain from bending nature to our will, the ethical considerations of animal pharming is troubling. The transfer of nuclear material is still a crap shoot. Even if the transgene is integrated successfully into the genome it may express itself in undesirable or unanticipated ways. Cloning results in gross deformities and underdevelopment. (Helmut Kae, BioTeach)

Of the 50,000 -100,000 genes in farm animals, we know the identity and function of only 1-2 per cent. Making modifications to this genome is like playing with a chemistry set which has had all the labels removed. Except that in the case of gene transfer, the experimental materials are living, sentient creatures, capable of feeling the pain that is caused when the experiments inevitably go wrong." (Animal Liberation)