UPV/EHU develops a simple and useful method to differentiate the sex of fish

2012/10/15 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Arrantza
• Biologia

Ibon Cancio, one of the scientists who participated in this research, explained that 5S rRNA is expressed in the gonads of the females, necessary for the production of ribosomes and the subsequent development of oocytes. However, its expression is very small in the gonads. Furthermore, Cancio has said that they are also intersexes: “They are males with oocytes showing an intermediate statement.” For the quantification of the 5S rRNA of fish is used the well-known technique based on the chain reaction of polymerase, the PCR. It is a simple, cheap and reliable technique that offers good results in all species of fish of commercial interest of the Gulf of Bizkaia in any reproductive phase: chicharro, sardine, verdel, hake, rooster...

According to Cancio, it is very useful to be able to easily distinguish the sexes, but for fishing it is even more useful to know at what stage of the reproductive cycle is the female. Thus, researchers have confirmed that the method developed in the UPV/EHU laboratory is also useful for this. The study was published in the journal Environmental Science&Technology.