Scientists accidentally create a new type of fish, as is done

Those of you who have not yet subscribed to the scientific journal. Genes you may want to sign up today, so you never miss another report on something like the rise of the Sturddlefish—A new hybrid Completely created by accident when scientists attempted to save a fish from extinction.

The Russian sturgeon produces some of the world’s most precious caviar, but is currently critically endangered thanks to overfishing and the destruction of its habitat. Hungarian scientists recently launched a project aimed at saving sturgeon from extinction by promoting asexual reproduction within the species. Gynogenesis, according to CNN“It uses treated sperm from another species to convince the specimen’s eggs to develop.” In this case, the sperm was from the American Spoonbill, and it all went sideways.

In the process of gynegenesis, the DNA of the American spatula fish was not supposed to be transferred to the eggs of the Russian sturgeon, but somehow it did, one theory is that the two fish had genes that were more similar than the scientists they had anticipated, allowing them to hybridize and produce a large number of unstable offspring. And behold, the big shot was born! (That’s not the official name, but it will definitely be better understood than anything else scientists choose to call it.)

Each of the resulting fish looks a little different, most of them bearing a stronger resemblance to the sturgeon (which, of course, was the whole idea). But if the offspring adopt the feeding habits of the oarfish instead of the sturgeon, then the hybrid fish could greatly benefit the environment: the sturgeon has a diet of larger crustaceans while the oarfish feeds on smaller organisms such as plankton. , which makes the diet of the latter more sustainable in the long term. (It is not necessary to send microscopic organisms to feed the fish, which means less carbon emissions). Cheap diet + expensive roe = money in the bank.

It’s like a romantic comedy, isn’t it? Two fish that apparently have nothing in common: the rowing fish enjoying its carefree life in the Mississippi River basin, the serious-minded Russian sturgeon focused on a ruthless survival game of the fittest, brought together by the most unlikely circumstances, and He left with a whole group of little ones to deal with. It prepares them very well for a sequel, at least.