Transgenic Te
387
Part B | 13.1
13. Transgenic Technology in Marine Organisms
Thomas T. Chen, Chun-Mean Lin, Maria J. Chen, Jay H. Lo, Pinwen P. Chiou, Hong-Yi Gong,
Jen-Leih Wu, Mark H.-C. Chen, Charles Yarish
Marine organisms into which a foreign gene or
non-coding deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragment
is artificially introduced and stably integrated
in their genomes are termed transgenic marine organisms. Since the first report in 1985,
a wide range of transgenic fish and marine
bivalve mollusks have been produced by microinjecting or electroporating homologous or
heterologous transgenes into newly fertilized or
unfertilized eggs and sperm. In the past few
years, rapid advances of gene transfer technology
has resulted in the production of many genetically modified organisms (GMOs) such as fish,
crustaceans, microalgae, macroalgae, and sea
urchins. These GMOs are valuable in assisting the
advances of basic research as well as biotechnological application. In this chapter, the principle
of producing transgenic marine organisms and
the application of the technology to produce
genetically modified marine organisms in the
hope of improving the quality of human life as
well as the earth environments will be critically
reviewed.
13.1 Synopsis .............................................. 387
13.2 Production of Transgenic Marine
Organisms ........................................... 388
13.2.1 Transgene Constructs ................. 388
13.2.2 Selection of Marine Organism
Species ..................................... 391
13.2.3 Methods of Gene Transfer........... 392
13.3 Characterization of Transgenic Marine
Organisms ........................................... 396
13.3.1 Identification of Transgenic
Individuals ............................... 396
13.3.2 Determination of Transgene
Integration ............................... 396
13.3.3 Determination
of Transgene Expression ............. 397
13.3.4 Breeding Homozygous Transgenic
Organisms................................. 398
13.4 Biotechnological Application
of Transgenic Marine Organisms ........... 398
13.4.1 Enhancement of Disease
Resistance ................................ 398
13.4.2 Enhancement of Somatic Growth 400
13.4.3 Increase of Body Color Variation
in Ornamental Fish .................... 400
13.4.4 Models for Studying Human
Diseases ................................... 401
13.4.5 Transgenic Fish as Environmental
Biomonitors .............................. 402
13.4.6 Other Biotechnological
Applications.............................. 403
13.5 Concerns and Future Perspectives ......... 405
References................................................... 406
13.1 Synopsis
Marine organisms into which a foreign gene or noncoding DNA fragment is artificially introduced and
integrated in their genomes are termed transgenic marine organisms. Since 1985, a wide range of transgenic
fish species and marine bivalve mollusks have been produced mainly by microinjecting or electroporating homologous or heterologous transgenes into newly fertilized or unfertilized eggs and sometimes, sperm [13.1–
5]. More recently, transgenic Artemia [13.6], microalgae [13.7], macroalgae [13.8], and sea urchins [13.9]
have also been produced. Among the many transgenic marine organism species developed, transgenic
fish species are the most abundant. To produce the
desired transgenic marine organisms, several factors
should be considered. First, an appropriate marine organism species must be chosen. This decision should
depend on the nature of the study and the ability to
maintain the organism in a biosafe containment facil-
387
Part B | 13.1
13. Transgenic Technology in Marine Organisms
Thomas T. Chen, Chun-Mean Lin, Maria J. Chen, Jay H. Lo, Pinwen P. Chiou, Hong-Yi Gong,
Jen-Leih Wu, Mark H.-C. Chen, Charles Yarish
Marine organisms into which a foreign gene or
non-coding deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragment
is artificially introduced and stably integrated
in their genomes are termed transgenic marine organisms. Since the first report in 1985,
a wide range of transgenic fish and marine
bivalve mollusks have been produced by microinjecting or electroporating homologous or
heterologous transgenes into newly fertilized or
unfertilized eggs and sperm. In the past few
years, rapid advances of gene transfer technology
has resulted in the production of many genetically modified organisms (GMOs) such as fish,
crustaceans, microalgae, macroalgae, and sea
urchins. These GMOs are valuable in assisting the
advances of basic research as well as biotechnological application. In this chapter, the principle
of producing transgenic marine organisms and
the application of the technology to produce
genetically modified marine organisms in the
hope of improving the quality of human life as
well as the earth environments will be critically
reviewed.
13.1 Synopsis .............................................. 387
13.2 Production of Transgenic Marine
Organisms ........................................... 388
13.2.1 Transgene Constructs ................. 388
13.2.2 Selection of Marine Organism
Species ..................................... 391
13.2.3 Methods of Gene Transfer........... 392
13.3 Characterization of Transgenic Marine
Organisms ........................................... 396
13.3.1 Identification of Transgenic
Individuals ............................... 396
13.3.2 Determination of Transgene
Integration ............................... 396
13.3.3 Determination
of Transgene Expression ............. 397
13.3.4 Breeding Homozygous Transgenic
Organisms................................. 398
13.4 Biotechnological Application
of Transgenic Marine Organisms ........... 398
13.4.1 Enhancement of Disease
Resistance ................................ 398
13.4.2 Enhancement of Somatic Growth 400
13.4.3 Increase of Body Color Variation
in Ornamental Fish .................... 400
13.4.4 Models for Studying Human
Diseases ................................... 401
13.4.5 Transgenic Fish as Environmental
Biomonitors .............................. 402
13.4.6 Other Biotechnological
Applications.............................. 403
13.5 Concerns and Future Perspectives ......... 405
References................................................... 406
13.1 Synopsis
Marine organisms into which a foreign gene or noncoding DNA fragment is artificially introduced and
integrated in their genomes are termed transgenic marine organisms. Since 1985, a wide range of transgenic
fish species and marine bivalve mollusks have been produced mainly by microinjecting or electroporating homologous or heterologous transgenes into newly fertilized or unfertilized eggs and sometimes, sperm [13.1–
5]. More recently, transgenic Artemia [13.6], microalgae [13.7], macroalgae [13.8], and sea urchins [13.9]
have also been produced. Among the many transgenic marine organism species developed, transgenic
fish species are the most abundant. To produce the
desired transgenic marine organisms, several factors
should be considered. First, an appropriate marine organism species must be chosen. This decision should
depend on the nature of the study and the ability to
maintain the organism in a biosafe containment facil-