Identification of Genetically Modified Zebrafish (Danio rerio) by Protein- and DNA-Analysis

Abstract

The import, sale and possession of fluorescent transgenic zebrafish, offered under the name “GloFish®” in U.S. aquarium shops, are not permitted in the European Union. A PCR-based method has been developed to detect transgenic zebrafish harbouring the gene (dsRed) coding for the red fluorescent protein, originally isolated from the marine sponge Discosoma striata. Two types of PCR have been performed: (i) PCR to detect amplifiable genomic zebrafish DNA was checked using primers specific for the zebrafish parvalbumin gene; (ii) PCR with primers to specifically amplify the dsRed gene. In both PCR systems, genomic DNA isolated from wild type zebrafish was used as control template, in the second PCR system, the plasmid dsRed2-N1 was used as a positive control.