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U.S. Gov't Grows Giant Mutant Trout

Posted by timothy on from the now-with-more-frickin' dept.

An anonymous reader writes "USDA scientists are genetically engineering trout that have three sets of chromosomes instead of the usual two. Trout with three chromosome grow faster because they are unable to reproduce, and energy from the food they eat is shifted from reproduction to growth. No word on whether said trout produce more fish fingers than their non-Frankenstein brothers."

5 of 56 comments (clear)

  1. Hmm... by joeslugg · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Seems fishy to me.
    Why go through this sort of effort to make bigger trout?
    Why not just farm-raise fish of a larger species (like catfish)?

    Can I get the goverment to make a genetically-altered giant version
    of all my other favorite foods too? (e.g. Twinkies)

    Is this a good use of our tax dollars?

    1. Re:Hmm... by PitaBred · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Mmm, gotta love RTFMing.
      a) Make bigger trout to have bigger fillets, because that's what the consumer wants
      b) Catfish doesn't taste like trout. People want trout.
      c) Twinkies growing on trees... mmmmm.... oh, wait
      d) I'd say it's a lot better than many uses of our tax dollars, but that's just MHO.

      --
      My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
  2. Huh? by JoeD · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Energy is shifted from reproduction to growth?

    Polyploid organisms are bigger because their cells are bigger, not because their energy is transferred.

    They also say that because the triploid trout can't reproduce, there is no danger to existing stocks, but they seem to have forgotten the fertile tetraploid trout used to produce them.

    Interesting factiod: the same technique used to produce the triploid trout is used to produce the triploid seedless watermelons in your supermarket.

  3. Oh, great... by Xaroth · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Giant mutant trout with Klinefelter's syndrome. Just what the world needs.

    In an amusing bit of coincidence, the best test for Klinefelter's is known as FISH.

    --
    That green slime had it coming.
  4. These are already being planted by nyrk · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Nothing really new to see here. These fish are already being planted in lakes in Washington State. They are called triplods. They are usually planted in heavily fished lakes for sport fishermen to catch. I guess not many slashdotters are sport fishermen.