The Genetics of Fish Diseases

Abstract

The clearest evidence for the hereditary determination of diseases in fishes comes from the genetic studies of melanomas. This neoplastic disease in platyfish-swordtail hybrids is initiated, intensified, or inhibited by genetic factors. The development of melanomas depends upon the interaction of a sex-linked, dominant gene obtained from the platyfish and a number of dominant modifying genes obtained from the swordtail. During the past 5 years, evidence has been discovered for the hereditary influence in the development of thyroid tumors in a species of Mexican swordtails. The disease closely resembles the well known thyroid tumors in trout, described about 50 years ago. Kidney tumors of thyroid-cell origin have been detected in several strains of platyfish. In other strains of the same species, living under similar conditions and diets, the kidney tumors have not developed. Several examples are presented of death of fish embryos from hereditary causes. Some skeletal abnormalities of fishes may be traced to injurious genes. The hereditary factors involved in diseases and abnormalities are generally complex and difficult to detect, but the evidence for their existence is undeniable.