Genomics and Applied Biology 2024, Vol.15, No.2, 99-106 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/gab 99 Feature Review Open Access CRISPR-Cas9 Mediated Gene Editing in Tilapia: Enhancing Growth Rates and Disease Resistance Chen Liang, Yi Lu, Rudi Mai Tropical Marine Fisheries Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding author: rudi.mai@hitar.org Genomics and Applied Biology, 2024, Vol.15, No.2 doi: 10.5376/gab.2024.15.0012 Received: 18 Feb., 2024 Accepted: 25 Mar., 2024 Published: 08 Apr., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Liang et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Liang C., Lu Y., and Mai R.D., 2024, CRISPR-Cas9 mediated gene editing in tilapia: enhancing growth rates and disease resistance, Genomics and Applied Biology, 15(2): 99-106 (doi: 10.5376/gab.2024.15.0012) Abstract CRISPR-Cas9 mediated gene editing has emerged as a transformative tool in aquaculture, offering precise genetic modifications to improve key traits in fish species such as tilapia. This study explores the potential of CRISPR-Cas9 technology to enhance growth rates and increase disease resistance in tilapia, a widely farmed species crucial to global food security. By targeting specific genes associated with growth and immune responses, CRISPR-Cas9 enables the rapid development of superior strains with stable and heritable traits. Case studies demonstrate successful gene editing applications that result in improved growth performance and enhanced disease resistance, thus reducing the need for antibiotics and supporting more sustainable aquaculture practices. However, challenges remain, including off-target effects, regulatory hurdles, and public acceptance. Ecological concerns, such as gene flow to wild populations, also warrant further investigation. Despite these challenges, CRISPR-Cas9 shows promise in transforming tilapia breeding programs by improving productivity and sustainability. As the technology advances and regulatory frameworks evolve, it is poised to have a long-lasting impact on the aquaculture industry. Keywords CRISPR-Cas9; Gene editing; Tilapia; Growth enhancement; Disease resistance 1 Introduction CRISPR-Cas9, a revolutionary genome editing tool, has transformed the landscape of genetic engineering across various fields, including agriculture, biomedicine, and functional genomics. Originating from a bacterial immune system, CRISPR-Cas9 allows for precise, targeted modifications of DNA sequences through the use of a guide RNA (gRNA) that directs the Cas9 endonuclease to specific genomic loci (Arora and Narula, 2017; Li et al, 2021; Richardson et al., 2023). This technology has been employed to generate knockouts, insertions, deletions, and even single-base substitutions, making it a versatile tool for genetic manipulation (Wang et al., 2016; Borrelli et al., 2018). The ease of design, high efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of CRISPR-Cas9 have made it the preferred method for genome editing over other technologies such as zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) (Belhaj et al., 2015; Chen et al., 2017). Tilapia is one of the most widely farmed fish species globally, known for its rapid growth, adaptability to various environmental conditions, and high nutritional value. It plays a crucial role in food security and the economy of many developing countries. The demand for tilapia continues to rise due to its affordability and the increasing global population (Ahmad et al., 2020). However, challenges such as slow growth rates and susceptibility to diseases pose significant threats to tilapia farming, necessitating innovative solutions to enhance productivity and sustainability in aquaculture (Barrangou and Doudna, 2016). Improving growth rates and disease resistance in tilapia is essential for maximizing yield and ensuring the sustainability of aquaculture practices. Traditional breeding methods have had limited success in achieving these goals due to the complex genetic traits involved. CRISPR-Cas9 offers a promising alternative by enabling precise genetic modifications that can enhance desirable traits such as faster growth and increased resistance to pathogens (Chen et al., 2017; Borrelli et al., 2018). By targeting specific genes associated with these traits, CRISPR-Cas9 can accelerate the development of superior tilapia strains, thereby addressing the challenges faced by the aquaculture industry (Wang et al., 2017).
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzMg==