Seafood finding place on lab tables. From Nikkei Weekly 9/15/97.
Japan is a huge consumer of seafood, so it seems only natural for the nation to focus some of its research energy on the genetic analysis of fish and shellfish.
But so far, surprisingly few resources have been put into the analysis of the complete genetic blueprints of marine species, and Japan risks being left in the wake of the genome efforts of the other nations.
The tide is beginning to turn, however, and several projects are being launched in what can broadly be termed as "aqua-genome research." Genome analysis of the oyster has already begun, and projects on salmon, trout and herring should start before the end of the year.
Common Objectives
The objectives in each case are to discover useful genes, develop highly productive culturing techniques and create new and tastier varieties of seafood.
The oyster project is spearheaded by Professor Nobuyoshi Shimizu of the Keio University School of Medicine in Tokyo. Shimizu has set up a laboratory dubbed the International Center for Oyster Genomics at the Kyoto Prefecture factory of oyster company Japan Clinic Co.
There a team of two scientists is running the effort to analyze the full genetic makeup of the oyster, using specimens taken from Hiroshima and Miyagi prefectures.
Shimizu is also participating in the Human Genome Project, the international effort to analyze the full set of human genes, and the same techniques can be used to analyze the oyster.
Since the oyster has just one-third the number of genes of a human, it should be easier to study. The researchers expect to find genes that can boost the disease resistance of oysters and generally boost oyster-culturing productivity.
Meanwhile, starting in October the Fisheries Institute of Aquaculture plans to begin genetic analysis of leporinus, a high-grade fish from Brazil. The aim is to discover disease resistance genes and establish a method of culturing the fish. The institute will also support genome analysis of salmon and trout.
Herring Studies(what?(:>))
Lovers of herring roe will appreciate the work planned by Assistant Professor Hideki Otake and a group from the Kokkyo University School of Medicine in Soka, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo. This summer, the group will begin genetic analysis of the herring using cells grown in culture. The goal is to develop an efficient way to produce herring roe, as well as to study the possibilities of herring culture.
Global Efforts
Elsewhere in the world, researchers from the US and Germany are analyzing the zebra fish, while a British group is looking at the globefish.
Australia and Thai groups are targeting the prawn, seeking easier ways to culture the crustacean for export to Japan, which is the leading consumer market.
"Japan lags behind in the genetic research of marine organisms," noted Professor Takashi Aoki of the Tokyo University of Fisheries. "As foreign nations gain control over more and more gene-related patents, that will have a big effect on the domestic fishing industry."
Given that scenario, it seems only a matter of time before the Japanese government steps in and begins promoting the domestic effort in aqua-genome research. |
