Engineered Catfish Gene Editing for Growth and Omega-3 Traits
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved fish genetics and aquaculture methods to meet the increasing global demand for seafood, particularly in aquaculture, as capture fisheries have plateaued or declined over the past 50 years.
Innovation Solution
Engineered fish with modified melanocortin-4 receptor and myostatin genes, optionally combined with exogenous genes such as elongase, n-3 fatty acid biosynthesis, cecropin, cathelicidin, growth hormone, or follistatin, are developed using programmable nucleases like CRISPR-Cas, TALEN, or Zinc Finger Nuclease systems to enhance growth, disease resistance, and nutritional content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional fish genetics and aquaculture methods are used, then current production levels are maintained, but global seafood demand cannot be met as capture fisheries have plateaued or declined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying specific genetic parameters (melanocortin-4 receptor and myostatin genes) to alter fish growth characteristics. This enables increased body weight, growth rate, and n-3 fatty acid content while maintaining sustainable aquaculture practices, thereby meeting global seafood demand without overexploiting capture fisheries
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses programmable nucleases (CRISPR-Cas, TALEN, Zinc Finger Nuclease) to create engineered fish that copy and amplify desirable traits from parent species. This genetic copying approach produces fish with enhanced growth and nutritional properties, increasing seafood supply sustainably
2Productivity
If fish are engineered with modified melanocortin-4 receptor and myostatin genes, then growth rate and body weight are increased, but genetic modification complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by targeting and modifying specific individual genes (melanocortin-4 receptor and myostatin) rather than attempting to rewrite the entire genome. This focused approach achieves enhanced growth rate and body weight while managing genetic engineering complexity through modular, gene-specific interventions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies specific genetic parameters (gene expression levels, protein function) to achieve desired phenotypic changes. By changing parameters at the molecular level rather than redesigning entire biological systems, the patent increases productivity while controlling the complexity of genetic modification
3Quantity of substance
If exogenous genes are introduced to increase n-3 fatty acids and disease resistance, then nutritional content and health benefits are improved, but gene editing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple beneficial traits (increased n-3 fatty acid content, enhanced disease resistance, improved growth) into a single engineered fish population through coordinated gene editing. By combining these improvements in one system rather than creating separate lines, the patent enhances nutritional content and health benefits while managing overall editing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates engineered fish with multi-functional improvements: the same genetic modifications that increase n-3 fatty acid content also enhance disease resistance and growth. This universal approach achieves multiple desirable traits through integrated gene editing, improving nutritional content and health benefits without proportionally increasing editing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Descried in certain example embodiments herein are engineered fish, particularly engineered catfish, that are engineered to contain modified myostatin, melanocortin-4 receptor, and/or one or more n-3 fatty acid biosynthesis pathway genes and/or gene products.