Transgenic Red Tetra Fish for Fluorescent Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The ornamental fish industry faces limitations in developing transgenic fish that express fluorescent proteins, particularly for aesthetically pleasing colors like red, due to challenges in introducing and stabilizing foreign genes in fish species such as the black skirt tetra, which affects the visualization of colors in commercially cultured fish.
Innovation Solution
The development of transgenic fluorescent fish, specifically the red tetra, achieved by integrating chromosomal transgenes like the 'Red tetra 1 transformation event' into the white tetra, allowing for the production of fertile, homozygous or heterozygous fish that exhibit a stable red color, which can be bred and distributed for ornamental purposes and scientific research.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fluorescent proteins are introduced into black skirt tetra to create transgenic fish, then new varieties of fish with fluorescent colors can be produced, but the dark striped pigmentation interferes with the visualization of fluorescent colors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic dark pigmentation by using albino black skirt tetra (white tetra) as the host organism instead of the wild-type black skirt tetra. This removes the interfering pigment cells while retaining the desired fluorescent protein expression, allowing clear visualization of the fluorescent colors without the masking effect of dark stripes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pigmentation parameter of the host fish from dark-striped to albino/white phenotype. This parameter change in the background pigmentation allows the fluorescent proteins to be visualized more effectively, as the fluorescent signal stands out against the lighter background without being masked by dark pigments.
2Reliability
If transgenes are introduced into fish to create fertile transgenic lines, then inheritable traits can be produced, but the process of introducing and stabilizing foreign genes is complex and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sperm-mediated gene transfer where the transgenic sperm naturally fertilize eggs, and the transgene is inherited through standard reproduction. This self-service approach uses the fish's own reproductive system to propagate the transgene without requiring complex artificial intervention for each generation, thereby achieving fertile transgenic lines while simplifying the overall process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs microinjection of the transgene construct into the sperm or early embryo at a preliminary stage before fertilization or early development. This preliminary action ensures the transgene is introduced at the correct time and position, facilitating stable integration and inheritance while avoiding the need for complex post-introduction stabilization procedures.
3Ease of manufacture
If white tetra are used as host for transgenesis, then better visualization of fluorescent colors is achieved, but the aesthetic appeal for ornamental market may be reduced compared to wild-type
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces fluorescent protein genes that produce bright fluorescent colors (green, red, yellow, orange, blue, or purple) in the white tetra. These fluorescent color changes override the plain appearance of the albino host, creating visually striking fish that are highly desirable in the ornamental market while maintaining the advantage of good fluorescent visualization.
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 red tetra fish provide aesthetically appealing products for the ornamental market and serve as valuable tools for scientific research, enabling better visualization of colors and facilitating studies on cell lineage and cancer models.
Implementation Method 1
transgenic fish, particularly red transgenic fish... transgenic fluorescent fish... fluorescent proteins... exhibit a stable red color
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to transgenic red ornamental fish, as well as methods of making such fish by in vitro fertilization 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.