ShodhPatra: International Journal of Science and Humanities

Transgenic Fishes and their Characteristics

Making a genetically modified organism is called transgenesis. Fishes act as excellent models compared to mammals due to their breeding procedure, high fecundity. The main objective of gene manipulation in fishes is to enhance growth and efficiency of food conversion, tolerance to environmental variables such as temperature, salinity, to develop new color varieties. The traditional selective breeding had a huge impact on fish production but it is time consuming. Transgenic approach should supplement the selective breeding technology. Warm water fishes such as tilapia, carps and cold water fishes such as salmon, trout were developed transgenetically. The growth in these fishes is increased by transferring growth hormone gene. Using gene manipulation it is possible to change the phenotype and modify the cells which help in curing number of abnormalities. The modification of the fish genomes brings disease resistance, increase in growth helping in aquaculture. In the present study a transgenic fishes and their characters are discussed.