Objective
This project aims at improving transgenic technologies in fish, through a better control of integration and expression of the introduced genes.
Stable integration must occur at regular rates, and progress must be made to integrate the transgenes into a limited number of sites in the genome. Expression must be reproducible, attain and not overstep the desired levels. To meet these requirements, an important effort will be devoted to the development of new instruments, some already validated in other organisms, but also to the improvement of the actual transgenic technology used in fish. A particular attention will be given to the control of integration sites and in parallel to the achievement of site-independent expression. The routes to improved transgenics will include gene transfer experiments into both the germline, either directly in vivo or via cultivated embryonic stem cells and primordial germ cells, and into the soma. Central to this project is to develop strategies to improve the technology to a point where introduction of foreign genes into fish becomes a reliable method for systematic alterations of the genome being under absolute control of the researcher and giving the expected result. How fish genes in general and in detail work, is still an unsatisfactorily answered question, which is of major interest for aquaculture, fisheries and all fish-related basic research. The project should develop transgenic technologies that will provide the appropriate tools for answering these questions. It is not intended within this project to produce genetically modified fish for consumers use. The pure research-on-technology oriented nature of the questions addressed experimentally is reflected in the fact that all reporter and indicator genes used are exclusively those which will not have any physiological effect on a cell or a whole organism. No release of genetically modified organisms is intended as part of the scientific program. All transgenic research will be performed within a guaranteed safe laboratory containment under the EU regulation and established national legislation. To cope with possible public concerns the scientists involved in this project intent to set up the most safe conditions for handling transgenic fish and will apply them to their own research even if they exceed the legislation of their own country. They will provide a basis for those countries where no legislation for research on genetically modified fish exists so far. Techniques for a non genome-invasive somatic gene transfer are further elaborated in this project which will prevent the non-reversable situation of stable transgenesis. Methods will be developed that will allow the selection in vitro of useful transgenic genomes, thus avoiding unnecessary production of transgenic fish in the future. Inherent to the scientific plan is the improvement and evaluation of methods for monitoring the presence of transgenes in trace amounts in the whole organism, cell and tissue extracts, or any other product derived from a transgenic fish. The most predictable method of transgenic technology, namely the targeting of genes, will be followed up, aiming at the minimal genetic alteration of the modified organism and opening up the possibility to knock out unwanted genetic traits or even transgenes once they become undesirable in a certain fish stock of scientific or economic importance. Following these goals should also enable within a European dimension the scientific community to catch up - where necessary - or to follow the enormous progress made in many countries outside the European Community in the field of transgenic research. It should create the necessary expertise to make the optimal use of this novel technology for the sake of basic and applied research as well as aquaculture whenever it will become appropriate.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries fisheries
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology genetic engineering gene therapy
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
97074 Wurzburg
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.