US: Genomics helps to tackle bacterial cold-water disease in rainbow trout

The research was led by Dr Tim Leeds, who’s based at the National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture (NCCCWA) in Leetown, West Virginia. They accomplished this feat by analysing genetic markers – groups of genes they capture using breakthrough technology that has become vastly more affordable in recent years, explained Kathryn Markham, from ARS Office of Communications. One key tool is the SNP chip (referred to as a “snip chip”), a kind of DNA micro-array – essentially a tiny slide printed with information about an organism’s genetic sequence. As a result, researchers have increased the sophistication of their efforts, improving more traits more quickly than ever before. Originally, they had just focused on raising ever-larger fish. “We made very consistent improvement, generation over generation,” Leeds explained. “But improving growth performance is a pretty straightforward trait to work on, and industry can do that themselves.” Now, with the ability to peer into the ...