It started with just one little protein finding a new home, but it evolved into something major. What used to always be a hallmark of science fiction and fantasy is quickly becoming a reality. Genetic modification unlocks new possibilities every day and opens new doors for humanity, but are these doors we should be going through? Genetically modifying plants to grow better seems like natural selection, but genetically modifying livestock with no abandon? If we are ever going to draw a line for how gene editing factors into our lives, we need to change the status quo by making information more readily available. If it continues as is, the changes will happen—before we are even aware.

Engineering plants to grow better seemed like a normal thing to do. We have already done similar enough processes like grafting; why not take it one step further? The benefits were obvious and are already helping to keep humanity fed today, a job well done. The natural next step is to do the same for protein, but going from plants to animals is a massive step full of new complications. While both living, plants are drastically different from animals. A moving, breathing creature being mutated purely for our benefit? Is that what we are ready for? Well, it’s already happening—and we don’t even know about it.

The first genetically modified living creature to enter our bellies looks to be fish, salmon specifically. First approved for human consumption in 2015, these genetically modified salmon are finally entering the food economy in the coming months, hoping to be the next big thing. The possible benefits for its growers are immense if it can penetrate the general market, as these “frankenfish” are bred to be eaten. Whether its possible success will lower the price of salmon for us consumers? Theoretically, more efficiently grown salmon will increase the supply, reducing the demand and costs, but that is a long way down the road.

These engineered “frankenfish” will be the future of salmon if nobody makes a stink. These modified fish are grown in Indiana twice as fast as wild salmon (an 18-month difference) in a heavily monitored environment. They are completely isolated from any wild salmon and sterile, so they should be safe from escaping into the wild and breeding. However, you never know what could happen, and if more groups enter the industry, there is bound to be a containment leak at some point. If/when that happens, we need to be prepared to deal with the consequences.

AquaBounty, the creator of this salmon, has been met with lots of backlash and wisely decided not to ship their salmon to stores without a genetically engineered label so it can be segregated from natural food. While it’s great the community can influence these companies, we as a community need to keep working and staying vigilant if we want to impact future decisions, especially when the government gets involved in regulations.

Next down the line of GMO animals approved for human consumption is the “Galsafe pig.” Ruled safe last year by the FDA, this pig seemed to have been created with a different motive than profit. Engineered not to contain a common human allergen, these pigs are to be used in creating safer blood-thinners for humans along with other medical products. The end goal of the experiment is to make pig organs safe for transplant to humans and solve the organ donor crisis, which seems a lot nobler than the profit-driven salmon. Does this make the modifications okay, though? These are questions we have to ask.

If these projects end up successful, the flood gates are going to open for modified animals. Do we want sheep and cows in our pastures being modified? If these modified animals end up in the wild, are they going to ruin ecosystems? Are the risks worth it for more efficient protein? Some more food for thought; is any of this going to matter in the long run, or is all our food going to lab-grown in the near future anyway? Some estimates are saying that by 2040, 60% of our meat is going to be either cultured(lab-grown) or plant-based. Is it worth the time and resources to genetically modify these animals even if we only reap the benefits for one generation?

Playing god in our world is a very dangerous prospect, and genetically modifying other living, breathing, feeling animals changing their lives purely for our material benefit sure seems like we are heading down that path. With the current peril our world is in from other factors, is it worth the risk to start experimenting with something new that will affect our fragile ecosystem? If you want to have a say and impact the future of genetically modified organisms, now is the time to act—we are running out of time.