Ocean pout

Ocean pout
Ocean pout
Ocean pout at the New England Aquarium
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Zoarcidae
Genus: Zoarces
Species: Z. americanus
Binomial name
Zoarces americanus

The ocean pout (Zoarces americanus) is an eelpout in the family Zoarcidae. It is found in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of New England and eastern Canada. The fish has antifreeze proteins in its blood, giving it the ability to survive in near-freezing waters.

Scientists have done studies wherein genes are taken from the ocean pout and implanted into salmon in an attempt to make the latter grow faster.[1][2] These genes transfer the ocean pout's tolerance for extremely cold waters to the salmon, allowing it to grow year-round. The promoter for the antifreeze protein gene is also used in conjunction with the growth hormone taken from a chinook salmon, which leads to a higher concentration of the growth hormone in the blood; causing the genetically modified salmon to grow much more rapidly than it would naturally. Controversy has arisen, as some view the altered fish as a potential threat to ordinary salmon if it is ever allowed to enter the wild.[3] Chefs and grocers in numerous US states have agreed not to sell the new fish over these concerns, though the fish is believed to be safe for human consumption.[4]

In June 2006 the Unilever company announced that it would use genetically modified yeast to grow antifreeze proteins based on a gene from the ocean pout, and use it to improve the consistency and storage properties of its ice cream brands.[5]

References

  1. ^ Gorman, James (2002-09-22), Dumb and Dumber: Here's a Fish Story With Legs, New York Times, http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DEED91F30F931A1575AC0A9649C8B63, retrieved 2007-11-20 
  2. ^ Burke, Monte (2001-02-19), Cannery Roe, Forbes, http://www.forbes.com/global/2001/0219/038_print.html, retrieved 2007-11-20 
  3. ^ Somers, Terri (2004-03-14), Fear of fishes, San Diego Union-Tribune, http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040314/news_mz1b14fishes.html, retrieved 2007-11-20 
  4. ^ Burros, Marian (2002-09-18), Chefs Join Campaign Against Altered Fish, New York Times, http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E2D61430F93BA2575AC0A9649C8B63, retrieved 2007-11-20 
  5. ^ Moskin, Julia. "Can a bit of Arctic pep up ice cream?" - International Herald Tribune. 31 July, 2006.

External links

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