While it is not directly related to fish as a food source, there has been limited genetic modification on using fish as means of producing protein based drugs such as blood clotting factors.
Could these GM fish be grown along side food species as a means of targeting other markets in addition to the food industry?
For instance, current aquaculture practice could be used to farm GM fish for biotech companies.
The advantage of using fish for producing protein based drugs is that currently many of these types of protein are produced in expression systems called bioreactors.
Bioreactors are essentially suspensions of GM cells that produce the protein of interest.
The cells have to be kept under optimal conditions and constantly fed nutrients so that proteins are constantly produced. Using a whole organism like a fish to produce a protein drug is potentially an easier and cheaper approach.
