FOREIGN GROWTH HORMONE GENE TRANSMISSION AND EXPRESSION IN F1 TRANSGENIC BETTA FISH (Betta imbellis)

Abstract

The economical value of betta fish (Betta imbellis) is mostly determined by its body color and size. The present
study was conducted to evaluate PhGH transmission, mRNA expression level and production performance of the
first generation of transgenic betta (F1). Three males and three females of transgenic F0 were mated with nontransgenic to produce F1 generation, and three pairs of non-transgenic betta as control were used. PhGH transgene
transmissions were analyzed using PCR method, mRNA expression was analyzed by RT-PCR and production
performance was evaluated based on the fertilization level, hatching level, body length and weight. The percentage
of F1 transgenic fish carrying PhGH gene was 62.5±5.89%, and mRNA expression varied amongst F1 transgenic
fish. Fertilization (FR: 91.7±7.5%) and hatching rates (HR: 91.3±9.4%) of transgenic fish were higher than those of
non-transgenic (FR: 70.0±10.0%; HR: 70.8±4.5%). At five-months-old, the mean body weight of males and
females of transgenic F1 were 1.47 and 1.76 times higher, whereas body length were 1.32 and 1.25 times higher
than those of non-transgenic fish, respectively.