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Synthetic growth
hormones could shorten the growth time needed for
farm-raised fish to reach market size.
In research led by
Connecticut Sea Grant scientist Thomas Chen, transgenics, or
the technique of transferring DNA from one species to
another, has showed promise as a method for stimulating
growth hormone production.
Using rainbow
trout and tilapia, Chen is testing a synthetic protein to
determine whether it can stimulate growth hormone production
the same way a natural protein would.
Early results are
promising. When Chen and his team transferred the rainbow
trout growth hormone gene into common seafood species like
carp, catfish and tilapia, the altered fish grew 60 to 600
percent larger. Chen also found that the application of a
synthetic growth hormone-releasing peptide was successful,
suggesting that the peptide, as well as the hormone itself,
can stimulate growth.
More studies are underway to confirm the hypothesis. The
researchers are further working to find a peptide that will
protect farm-raised rainbow trout and other seafood from
disease, which often plagues aquaculture operations.
If successful,
transgenic fish may one day reach commercial aquaculture
facilities and reduce both the amount of time and feed
needed to grow fish to market size.
CONTACT: Thomas Chen, Professor of Molecular and Cell
Biology, University of Connecticut (O) 860-486-5012, Email:
tchen@uconnvm.uconn.edu |
