The Institute of Marine Reseach (HI) in Norway has been using CRISPR since 2013. The goal of the first project was to develop sterile farmed salmon.
“We were going to use a different method, but our partners at the Max Planck Institute in Germany recommended CRISPR, and we ended up switching. Today, I think we have six CRISPR-Cas9 projects”, says research leader Anna Wargelius.
In time, Wargelius hopes the CRISPR-salmon can eliminate the problem of farmed salmon mixing with wild salmon genetically.
This would solve a major headache for the industry but also safeguard biological diversity. The research group also has the well-being of the salmon in mind, a requirement also stressed in research ethical guidelines.
“We have not seen any adverse effects in the genes of our salmon. They show good growth, good well-being, and good quality. We now wish to examine whether the genetic change also changes the salmon’s behavior”, says Wargelius.
To rule out completely any changes to the other 55 000 genes of the CRISPR-salmon, HI is planning to examine all its DNA.
“I think it is necessary, just to show we are on the safe side, and it does not cost a lot”, says Wargelius.