ABSTRACT

Our understanding of the structure of genes and how the expression of genes is regulated has allowed the development of "man-made" genes for transfer into different fish species and has increased our knowledge of the control of complex biological phenomena such as growth (Iyengar et al. 1996). The pioneering work on transgenic animal research of Palmiter and co-workers (1982) has had a profound influence on horticulture and agriculture. New plant varieties have been developed using transgenic methods (Grasser and Fraley 1989). The first such example is a tomato cultivar which is commercially available (Leemans 1993 for review}. This cultivar has a gene that, when expressed, inhibits the enzyme polygalacturonase, hence retarding the rotting process (Sheehy et al. 1988). Transgenesis has also been tested in farm animals for stock development (Pursel et al. 1989, Pursel and Rexroad 1993). Transgenic research may also play a role in aquaculture and marine resource management. The present article will focus on gene transfer technologies for salmon and the current state of salmon stock development.