Fish Sperm Experiment Could Help Save Species

Japanese scientists have created trout whose fathers were salmon in an experiment that they say may help preserve endangered species and boost the world’s fish populations.

Researchers from the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology reported this week in the journal Nature that they have transferred primordial germ cells, which can develop into either sperm or eggs, from newly hatched rainbow trout embryos to masu salmon embryos. Trout sperm from the salmon was later used to fertilize trout eggs, which produced healthy fish whose DNA fingerprints were similar to the donor trout’s.