Transgenic Purple Betta Fish via mKate2 Fluorescent Protein

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Solution Overview

Problem

The ornamental fish industry seeks to enhance or introduce novel colors in Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) to improve visual display, but progress in developing transgenic fish with fluorescent proteins has been limited and unpredictable.

Innovation Solution

The development of transgenic purple Betta fish by integrating chromosomally encoded transgenes, specifically the 'Purple Betta 1 transformation event,' which allows for the expression of purple fluorescent protein, enabling the fish to exhibit a stable and aesthetically pleasing purple color.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If transgenic technology is used to introduce fluorescent proteins into Betta fish, then novel colors and enhanced visual display can be achieved, but the process has been limited and unpredictable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of producing transgenic fish with fluorescent proteinsVSAvoidpredictability of transgenic fish development

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the key parameter from using standard fluorescent protein genes to using a specific mutant fluorescent protein gene (mKate2) with modified properties. This parameter change in the genetic material enables consistent purple color expression and resolves the unpredictability issue in producing transgenic Bettas with desired coloration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple pigment layers are present in Betta skin, then diverse natural colors can be achieved, but introducing novel fluorescent colors remains difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevariety of natural colors in Betta skinVSAvoiddifficulty of introducing novel fluorescent colors

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the existing pigment layer system of Betta fish with the introduced mKate2 fluorescent protein expression system. The fluorescent protein integrates with the natural pigment structure (melanin, carotenoid, and structural color layers) to produce the novel purple color, combining natural and transgenic coloration mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The transgenic purple Betta fish are fertile and exhibit a consistent purple color, making them suitable for the ornamental fish market and potentially valuable for scientific research, such as tracing cell lineage and marking cells in genetic mosaic experiments.

Implementation Method 1

The mKate2 transgene encodes a mutant fluorescent protein with a purple color. The fish exhibit a stable and aesthetically pleasing purple color.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentUS20250031678A1Transgenic purple betta and methods of making the same

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 GLOFISH LLC

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to transgenic ornamental fish, as well as methods of making such fish by germ cell transplantation techniques. Also disclosed are methods of establishing a population of such transgenic fish and methods of providing them to the ornamental fish industry for the purpose of marketing, distributing and selling such transgenic fish.