Science manages to surprise locals and strangers with this type of research.
Even though the gene editing It has many detractors, especially outside the scientific field and closer to the mystical and religious than to what is truly logical, these techniques are being very useful for the advancement of species, including humans. Imagine being able to avoid the extinction of the most threatened species today or that endangered dog breeds can have a second chance. In this case, a new study invites us to dream of improve species from other living beings.
Cut and paste alligator DNA into a catfish to boost its organism
Recently, judging by the article published in the scientific journal bioRxiv, we have known as Auburn University scientists have added DNA from alligators to catfish from fish farm Through the well-known CRISPR technique, which is a kind of cutting and pasting of the most advanced scientific world, researchers have succeeded in introducing into the DNA of these fish a type of gene called cathelicidin. In summary, this gene would be in charge of fight some diseases and it comes from an animal that is not very friendly.
Life finds a way: Geneticists have created disease-resistant catfish using alligator DNA and they may one day become a part of our diet.😬🤔 Yum!! With a biscuit, veggies and hot sauce!…NOT!! pic.twitter.com/BtzYNGfXru
—Sumner (@renmusb1) February 6, 2023
This gene, which is usually expressed in the gut of alligators, has been added to captive catfish to improve the resistance of these fish to disease, compared to catfish. catfish that swim free In fact, researchers say that these aquatic animals have a longer life expectancybesides that also their reproductive capacity is reduced. Of course, it seems that the CRISPR technique it will have to be used every time you want to give birth to this new species, according to what was stated by Greg Lutz, a genetic researcher, in an MIT article:
It is really difficult to breed enough fish of this type to obtain a viable and genetically healthy line.
With respect to consumption of these catfish genetically modified, scientists from Auburn University they wait for their fish to be approved and admitted as food, although the process will be long. In the United States, only the AquAdvantage salmon, created by the AquaBounty company, has managed to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, this species being a genetic modification with a larger size. Will it also be the case for catfish with alligator DNA?