This is a major achievement as the world’s scientific community has pursued a method for cryopreservation of fish embryos for several decades without success.
Coddy the cod embryo. Picture: Cryogenetics
The birth of "Coddy"
The Cryogenetics' R&D team, lead by Dr. Elisabeth Kommisrud has during the past two years systematically approached the task of establishing protocols for cryopreservation of fish embryos. As a result of these efforts, an Atlantic cod embryo, christened "Coddy", was successfully cryopreserved, thawed and showed normal development until hatching. Trials were repeated, optimized and patent applications filed to protect the invention.
Fish stocks in danger
Due to factors such as global warming, pollution and overfishing, several of the world’s fish stocks are facing low numbers and could soon be extinct. Modern cryotechnology such as the one developed by Cryogenetics might be adapted to achieve successful cryopreservation of embryos from most fish species. A fish cryobank will function as a "backup" for fish stocks in danger of extinction and guarantees a continued future of the species. Cryopreserved embryos can at any desired point in time be thawed to continue their natural development. Due to the high fecundity of most fish species, significant numbers of offspring can be produced at spawning of just one or few individuals. For example, one single Atlantic cod female can produce between 2.5 and 9 million eggs per spawn, and spawns repeatedly during the spawning season.
The cryorevolution
Cryopreservation of genetic material has already revolutionized other industries such as domestic animal breeding and conservation of endangered terrestrial species. Cryogenetics anticipates this invention to have a similar revolutionary effect on aquatic science and business as it has a wide area of application for companies and research institutions. Breeding companies, R&D companies, vaccine producers and public conservation programs can dramatically reduce costs and risks and increase opportunity and reliability through this method. The new technology also contributes to limiting spread of diseases, since genetic material can be transferred between regions with different health status in a controlled and safe way.
Cryogenetics AS will seek partnership with leading R&D groups in order to further develop and adapt the technology for the world's major fish species. The company is actively supported by Innovation Norway.
For further information, see www.cryogenetics.no or contact:
Jørn Ulheim, Managing Director
Phone: +47 95 72 32 93
E-mail: jorn.ulheim@cryogenetics.no
Dr. Elisabeth Kommisrud, R&D Director and Inventor:
Phone: +47 90 16 02 54
E-mail: elisabeth.kommisrud@biokapital.no