Growth performance studies in transgenic Cyprinus carpio

Two growth experiments with transgenic common carp (Cyprinus carpio) contai ning growth hormone (GH) gene constructs were conducted in earthen ponds us ing the communal testing method. The first experiment was performed in summ er under optimal growth conditions (high ambient temperatures and optimal f eeding). It tested three groups of F-2 transgenic carp containing the FV-1/ csGH gene construct (the common carp beta-actin proximal promoter fused to the chinook salmon growth hormone cDNA) from different integration events, and a non-transgenic control group. No significant difference in growth rat es was found between the transgenic groups and the control. The second expe riment was performed in winter under low ambient temperatures and minimal f eeding. It compared three groups of fish: one group of F-1 transgenic carp had the FV-1/csGH gene construct; another the FV-2/cGH gene construct-a com plete common carp p-actin promoter (Liu et al., 1990) fused to the common c arp growth hormone cDNA; and the third was a non-transgenic control group o f the commercial carp in Israel. In this experiment, the two transgenic gro ups showed higher growth rates as compared to the control (P < 0.001). (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.