Application of Transgenic Fish Technology in Aquaculture

Organisms into which heterologous DNA (transgene) has been artificially introduced and integrated in their genomes are called transgenics. Since the mid 1980s, many species of transgenic fish have been produced by introducing desired foreign DNA into unfertilized or newly fertilized eggs by microinjection or electro-poration. More recently, transgenic finfish, shellfish, and crustaceans have also been produced by infecting newly fertilized eggs or the immature ovary/testis with pantropic, defective retroviral vectors carrying the desired foreign DNA. These transgenic fish serve as excellent experimental models for basic scientific investigations as well as biotechnological applications. In this chapter, we will review the current status of the transgenic fish technology and its potential application in producing fast growing transgenic fish by introducing fish growth hormone (GH) or insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene into the developing embryos.