Biotech Updates

Japan Begins Sale of Genome-Edited "Madai" Red Sea Bream

October 20, 2021

The gene-edited red sea bream (left) compared to unedited versions (right) Photo Source: Dr. Masato Kinoshita, Kyoto University and Dr. Keitaro Kato, Kindai University

In Japan, the startup Regional Fish Co., Ltd., together with the Kyoto University and Kinki University, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, has created a gene-edited red sea bream "Madai" and will begin selling in October.

The gene-edited fish was developed using CRISPR gene editing technology to knock out a protein that suppresses muscle growth. The red sea bream lacking the myostatin gene has an edible part of about 1.2 times (up to 1.6 times), and the feed utilization efficiency is improved by about 14%.

The developers have completed notification procedures for the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. "Madai" is the world's first genome-edited animal food to be launched through national procedures.

For more details, read the news releases from Regional Fish and The Fish Site.


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