January 31, 2007

US scientists working to improve catfish quality through genetics

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists of the USDA are working to improve the potential of catfish, the most important fish in US aquaculture.

By unlocking the catfish genome, researchers at the ARS Catfish Genetics Research Unit (CGRU) in Stoneville, Miss., hope to find a way to select catfish broodstock with superior qualities.

Researchers have identified tens of thousands of active catfish genes and nearly 10,000 variable DNA sequences. Now they're searching for favourable, natural variations within genes that control traits such as lean growth, carcass yield and improved survival in commercial ponds.

Unlike cows or pigs with easily observable traits, it would be difficult to tell one genetically superior catfish from another. Thus, scientists have had to work on a DNA fingerprinting system which enabled the researchers to identify spawns that were related to the same father.