Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EPISELECT (Feasibility of a multi-panel of epigenetic markers of fish growth)
Reporting period: 2023-07-01 to 2024-12-31
The demand for fish, one of the major sources of high-quality protein, is rising globally, while overfishing and climate change put severe pressure on fish stocks. Hence, aquaculture has become the fastest growing food sector of the last decades. In aquaculture, selective breeding programmes aim to optimize fish traits, such as growth rate and disease resistance, for a more profitable production. However, the current selective breeding programmes rely exclusively on traditional genetic markers for favourable selection and do not consider important epigenetic marks (i.e. DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation) and non-coding RNAs (e.g. miRNAs and circRNAs) as influential factors on the variability of phenotypic traits. To date, no commercial tools exist that evaluate epigenetic markers for aquaculture. EPISELECT aimed to fulfil this gap by 1) Showing that combined assessment of newly identified circRNA variants with other key epigenetic markers enables highly accurate growth prediction in Nile tilapia; 2) Developing an IPR strategy; 3) Performing a targeted market analysis and stakeholder engagement to ensure commercial feasibility.
EPISELECT will impact the aquaculture industry, since it adds epigenetic management as another dimension beyond the management of genetic diversity for improving fish yields. Furthermore, epigenetic selection methods have the potential to be extended to other traits (e.g. disease resistance) and other fish species of commercial importance. The EPISELECT multi-panel of markers can be used to select fish with the highest growth potential, which would have a positive societal impact by reducing the environmental footprint of aquaculture through more efficient utilization of natural resources.
EPISELECT will impact the aquaculture industry, since it adds epigenetic management as another dimension beyond the management of genetic diversity for improving fish yields. Furthermore, epigenetic selection methods have the potential to be extended to other traits (e.g. disease resistance) and other fish species of commercial importance. The EPISELECT multi-panel of markers can be used to select fish with the highest growth potential, which would have a positive societal impact by reducing the environmental footprint of aquaculture through more efficient utilization of natural resources.
Using an omics approach, we have identified specific circular RNAs (circRNAs) that linked to muscle growth in Nile tilapia. These circRNAs interact with important muscle-regulating microRNAs (miRNAs), which play a crucial role in fish growth. Four key circRNAs were expressed at different levels between fast- and slow-growing fish (Figure 1). We also found that some miRNAs, such as miR-21 and miR-217, were linked to growth rate differences in both males and females. These results reinforce the importance of miRNAs in regulating fish growth and could be used to improve breeding strategies.
We will protect the EPISELECT intellectual property through a patent, covering methods to quantify non-coding RNAs and epigenetic markers and converting the data into growth predictions. The patent is initially filed with the Norwegian Industrial Property Office, with an option to expand internationally through the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
We will protect the EPISELECT intellectual property through a patent, covering methods to quantify non-coding RNAs and epigenetic markers and converting the data into growth predictions. The patent is initially filed with the Norwegian Industrial Property Office, with an option to expand internationally through the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
Market research has confirmed the strong commercial potential of EPISELECT’s technology for selective breeding in aquaculture. Engagement with the industry confirmed their interest in adopting epigenetic selection but further research is needed to demonstrate its economic potential. In particularly, heritability and stability of the epigenetic markers needs to be further demonstrated, and the technology needs to be validated in large-scale farm trials. By combining cutting-edge science with strategic commercialization, EPISELECT brings us closer to epigenetic selection, which will increase both sustainability and profitability in the aquaculture industry.