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Genetically-Engineered Death Carp

Posted by michael on from the chinese-needle-snakes dept.

angkor writes "Kinda cool... Carp that produce only male offspring. They do something like this with sterile fruitflies as well."

6 of 38 comments (clear)

  1. Kids these days... by Twintop · · Score: 4, Funny

    Baby Carp: "Daddy, where do babies come from?" Father Carp: "Well son, when a mommy carp and a daddy carp fall in love, they make little baby carp." Baby Carp: "Will I have babies someday, daddy?" Father Carp: "Not until humans descide to play god again, son."

  2. Before you complain... by OneFix · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I've been seeing alot of ppl complaining that this is "playing god"...

    First off, carp have a tendency to kill off eveything in their eco-system (they use up all of the oxygen and they eat all of the vegitation) so endangered species are feeling the "pinch".

    Second, these are most likely the offspring of bait!!!

    Yes, fishing has caused this problem. They're just trying to put things back the way they were.

  3. The Carp aren't scary... by Boronx · · Score: 4, Insightful
    but this sure is (from page three)

    A similar but contagious immunocontraceptive technique is being tested on Aussie rabbits.

    If that jumps to humans, we are screwed.

    --
    Play Command HQ online
  4. oh dear - naysaying warning by DrSkwid · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Let's introduce a new species that will work.

    Let's introduce a new predator that will work.

    Let's genetically modify them, that will work.

    Nothing can go wrong.

    --
    There are places where the networks are not touching,and there are places where they are-Boeing's Lori Gunter
  5. Mutant fish? by Dannon · · Score: 3, Funny

    Are they.... ill-tempered?
    ((insert Dr. Evil pinky finger gesture))

    --
    Good judgment comes from experience.
    Experience comes from bad judgment.
  6. Let's do the math by geoswan · · Score: 3, Informative
    Okay, let's play out your thought experiment.

    There are complicating factors -- like the hangers on from previous generations that are still fertile, and that with fewer carp eggs are hatched maybe more of them will survive, since they won't have as many other carp to compete with. Let's ignore those factors, and, for the sake or argument, work with thought carp that only breed once.

    Your assumptions were 250 normal females, 200 normal males, and 50 males with the daughterless gene, correct?

    Generation 1, 40% female, 40% male, 20% daughterless males

    Generation 2, 33% female, 33% male, 33% daughterless males

    Generation 3, 25% female, 25% male, 50% daughterless males

    Generation 4, 8% female, 16% male, 75% daughterless males

    Generation 5, 2% female, 4% male, 93% daughterless males

    And each generation from generation 2 on, since there are less females there are fewer eggs laid, and therefore fewer fish reaching maturity. Ignoring those factors I mentioned above generation 3 would be down a third to 333 adult fish, 81 of which would be female. Generation 4 would be 162 adult fish, with about a dozen females. Generation 5 would be about two dozen adult fish.

    Okay, they only plan to introduce males with the daughterless gene representing less than 1% of the current population, during the first year.

    I don't have the right tools to do the math for an addition of 1% per year of males with the daughterless gene. Maybe when I get home.