Production of cloned red sea bream, Pagrus major, by chromosome manipulation

Red sea bream, Pagrus major, is one of the most important fish cultured in Japan. Two clones of red sea bream were produced, Eggs from a mitotic gynogenetic diploid (mitotic-G2N) red sea bream were inseminated either with sperm from a mitotic-G2N male to produce a heterozygous clone (hetero-clone), or with UV-irradiated sperm of Japanese parrot fish (Oplegnathus fasciatus) and the second meiotic division suppressed by cold shock to produce a homozygous clone (homo-clone). Normal diploids were also produced from one male and female as a control. The clonal status of the Fish was confirmed by multilocus DNA Fingerprinting. The fingerprinting patterns differed between individuals within the normal diploids. However, there was no variation between individuals within hetero- or homo-clones. The patterns of the homo-clones and the mother were identical, and all the bands of homo-clones were also observed in hetero-clones. Thus, the clonal status of homo- and hetero-clones was confirmed and the production of clones from the broodstock of mitotic-G2N was achieved. The hatching rates, survival rates and growth of the hetero- and homo-clones were recorded for a brief comparison with results of diploid controls. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.