CRISPR-Based Genetic Improvement of Aquaculture Species

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated protein (CRISPR-Cas) system is considered a potential game-changer in the aquaculture sector. The CRISPR-Cas9 system is derived from an adaptive mechanism of the immune system of some prokaryotes. The CRISPR/Cas9 system potentially accelerates the rate of sustained genetic gain for the aquaculture and seafood production sectors. Unlike conventional genome-editing techniques, CRISPR/Cas9 is more cost-effective, user-friendly, and extremely precise. It enables overcoming large-scale challenges in aquaculture. Traits such as high fertility, external fertilization, shorter generation time, well-established breeding methods, and the ability to raise larvae offer potential benefits for applying CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in most aquacultural species. The use of genome editing accelerates precise breeding where desired modifications are made to the target gene. There is a high likelihood that the intended alterations will be achieved, resulting in the transmission of the desired trait to the next generation. In this paper, we review how the CRISPR system evolved, its basic categories and different Cas systems, as well as the molecular mechanism of CRISPR/Cas. We also highlight and discuss the potential applications of CRISPR/Cas in the aquaculture industry. Moreover, the challenges of using CRISPR/Cas technology are briefly discussed. This pathway charts a course to a future in which genome editing has the potential to enable aquaculture to fulfill world food requirements with public and ecological safety.