Could+Genetic+Engineering+Save+the+Galapagos?

[|Could Genetic Engineering Save the Galapagos?] =Could Genetic Engineering Save the Galapagos?= Scientific American Accessed November 5th, 2017

//Image Below found on article site//

Ever since the Galapagos islands were discovered many invasive species have been introduced and have been causing chaos for the native species living there. Instead of trying to eliminate all of the invasive species by hunting and poison, scientists consider whether or not genetic engineering could be a better solution. Currently many scientists have been annually going around various islands in attempts to eradicate all the mice and rats living there, but yet can only visit few of the hundreds of thousands of islands. One possible solution would be to dump hundreds of tons of rat poison all over several islands but not only is the cost millions of dollars the environmental cost is too great. One instance of using rat poison as mouse bait ended up with over 22 native species dying. Gene manipulating gives scientists the option to create a gene that produces more male mouse species than females, therefore slowly diminishing the species without affecting the others. Besides rats and mice, goats feed on vegetation that the tortoises need, wild cats feed on baby birds and lizards, and donkeys crush the eggs of turtles.
 * Summary:**

In the past couple chapters we have read in class some topics related to this article is native versus non-native species(Miller 208-209), as well as competition(Miller Chapter 9). This article demonstrates a real-life issue to alien species being introduced to an environment and damaging either the other species or the environment around it.
 * Relevance to Course:**

Although genetic engineering is frowned upon by many, I believe that it is the smartest choice if we want to preserve the Galapagos species from extinction. Already the biodiversity in the ecosystem drastically decreased and we cant afford to take chances on poisoning hundreds of organisms in the hopes of killing a few certain ones. I support the idea to alter the genes in mice in order to diminish the population but my fear is that the native species are in too dire of a need for us to wait too long before acting upon it.
 * Opinion:**

The Species Conservation Act of 1966 is one that most correlates with this article. The Species Conservation Act entails that only native species can be classified as endangered and therefore protected by the Departments of interior, agriculture and defense. The alien species were the cause of many organism catastrophes and therefore aren't as important to save as the native species.
 * Law:**