Researchers get many new fish to fry

FROM the creation of a type of "super salmon" to biological investigations into our genealogical origins, genetic technology is carried out in laboratories throughout the State.

The Department of Genetics at Trinity College Dublin is by far the largest centre with a staff of 75 headed by Prof David McConnell. Current research include the genetic analysis of blindness and a plant molecular sequencing programme. The latter involves the examination of the genetic make-up of, for example, a potato virus in order to cultivate strains of virus-resistant vegetables.

Research into genetic anthropology - a sort of glimpse at the nations' genetic family tree - is also ongoing at Trinity with scientists examining both the history and geography of Irish genes to determine how they relate to the origins of the population.

The National Centre of Diagnostics at University College Galway is one of five research facilities set up by the Government as part of Bio Research Ireland, an agency charged with transferring new technologies to Irish industry.

Prof James Houghton, who also heads the university's cyto genetics department directs the centre where researching genetic programmes, including the development of transgenic fish, is carried out.

This unorthodox example of marine life was created by adding beneficial genes from another species or breed to the original organism. The resultant "super salmon" is healthier and more resistant to disease than its common counterpart, making it much more attractive to fish farmers and consumers.

The consumer is a top priority at the National Food Biotechnology Centre in University College Cork. There, the micro-organisms responsible for yoghurt, breads and cereals - lactic acid bacteria - are examined with a view to enhancing both the nutritional value and flavour of these foods.

Not surprisingly given the recent scares, food safety forms a vital part of this research. The centre focuses on understanding the "fundamental physiology and biochemistry" of a number of micro-organisms in an effort to discover how to develop technologies which will eliminate illness-causing bacteria from foods.

Similar genetic techniques are employed at the National Agricultural and Veterinary Biotechnology Centre at University College Dublin, to screen infected plant material which could result in the devastation of national crops.

A form of genetic fingerprinting is used in this research to discriminate between two plants which could otherwise be indistinguishable. Molecular tools are then used to identify those plants that feature natural disease-resistant qualities so that they can be developed.