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Interesting little article on Aligator catfish hybrids


BlueLineAquaticsSC
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The only problem with raising catfish in farm ponds is that these water bodies turn into breeding grounds for disease. Farmers lose a huge number of fish every year to various infections. That’s why researchers at Auburn University are trying to create a more resilient catfish. With some genetic engineering and just a pinch of alligator DNA, a team of scientists have successfully spawned a new hybrid catfish species that they believe can better resist infection.

To achieve this, the research team led by Rex Dunham and Baofeng Su is using CRISPR technology, which allows scientists to edit and alter the genes of plants and animals. They were already looking for a genetic component to increase the heartiness of freshwater catfish. That search led them to a unique protein found in alligators called cathlecidin. In an interview with the Ireland-based Fish Site, Dunham explained that this antimicrobial protein is thought to protect alligators from developing infections in their wounds. The team figured if they could insert this gene into catfish, they’d end up with a more resilient fish.

 

Potential dumb decision #1.... Modifying a fish that can already eat humans.

Potential dumb decisions #2... Modifying a fish that humans use as a food source in some regions

Potential dumb decision #3.... Modifying a fish that humans eat because it lives in bacteria ridden toilet waters.

Potential dumb decision #4... Someone releases one to the wild, a flood happens, etc.

(Movie being deep blue sea)

Or this....

 

And then there's this....

 

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I watched a National Geographic thing a few years back. Alligators are supposedly immune to something like 26 known virus and bacteria pathogens that would kill most things humans included in a day or a few days. So this makes sense they would try to beef up catfish’s immunity with gator dna. 

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