Gene Editing Technology for Fish Health Management

Optimising commercial traits through gene editing in aquaculture: Strategies for accelerating genetic improvement

“…Furthermore, inducing sterility at a young age avoids the negative impacts associated with early maturation and allows the organism to focus its energy on growth. 165 Sterility may promote the development of several commercially advantageous traits such as improved flesh quality, increased growth rate, increased environmental tolerance, and increased disease resistance. [166][167][168] In the past, the application of surgery, irradiation, chemical and hormonal treatments have been used to induce sterility in fish.…”

“…[169][170][171] However, producing triploid organisms has been shown to result in a higher intolerance to suboptimal rearing conditions, as well as a higher susceptibility to deformities. 165 The use of gene editing technologies will likely provide a more efficient and humane method to induce sterility within aquatic species. Knocking out genes responsible for germ cell formation and maintenance is one way to create a sterile line of fish.…”

“…The recent popularity of inducing sterility stems from the desire to minimise rates of introgressive hybridisation of any escapees from culture systems with wild stocks. Furthermore, inducing sterility at a young age avoids the negative impacts associated with early maturation and allows the organism to focus its energy on growth 165 . Sterility may promote the development of several commercially advantageous traits such as improved flesh quality, increased growth rate, increased environmental tolerance, and increased disease resistance 166–168 .…”

“…More recently, triploidisation has been made a popular method for the creation of infertile species 169–171 . However, producing triploid organisms has been shown to result in a higher intolerance to suboptimal rearing conditions, as well as a higher susceptibility to deformities 165 …”