Key Takeaways
- The first gene-edited giant freshwater prawn was successfully produced using CRISPR technology by a partnership consisting of Watershed AC, Evogene, and Ben-Gurion University.
- The project aims to enhance crustacean traits such as growth rate, disease resistance, and environmental adaptability, crucial for sustainable aquaculture.
Breakthrough in Aquaculture Gene Editing
This week marked a significant milestone in aquaculture, as a research partnership between Watershed AC, Evogene, and Ben-Gurion University announced the successful production of the first gene-edited giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) utilizing CRISPR technology. This breakthrough is the result of a year-long collaboration aimed at enhancing key traits in crustaceans, including growth rates, disease resistance, and adaptability to varying environmental conditions.
Established in October 2023, this partnership received initial support from a grant provided by the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA). The project’s goal was to tackle the challenges associated with applying gene editing techniques to non-model organisms with limited genomic data and established protocols. Key species targeted include the giant freshwater prawn, white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), and red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), all of which play critical roles in the global aquaculture industry.
Evogene, a computational biology startup, employed its GeneRator AI technology to facilitate the precise design of guide RNAs (gRNAs) essential for the editing process. The company claimed that by predicting optimal gRNAs and considering un-annotated genomes along with natural DNA variability, the accuracy and efficiency of the CRISPR method have been markedly improved.
The successful editing of the giant freshwater prawn’s genome was achieved by Watershed AC, in collaboration with the team led by Professor Amir Sagi at Ben-Gurion University. The project successfully altered one specific trait—the eye color of the post-larvae stage of the prawn—demonstrating the effectiveness of the gene-editing technology in a real-world application.
Due to this achievement, the IIA has approved funding for the second year of the collaboration, which will focus on scaling the CRISPR technology for industrial applications and expanding its use to other commercially significant crustacean species, particularly the white-leg shrimp and red swamp crayfish.
As global populations rise alongside increasing environmental challenges, there is a pressing need to develop sustainable aquaculture solutions. Gene editing stands out as a viable method for enhancing key attributes such as growth rate, disease resilience, and adaptability in crustaceans. The global shrimp market is currently valued at approximately $40.35 billion and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.09% from 2024 to 2032. Additionally, the crayfish market is anticipated to experience remarkable growth, with a CAGR of 31.5% during the same period.
This innovation not only showcases advancements in biotechnology but also highlights a strategic move toward more sustainable practices within the aquaculture sector.
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