Challenges in the application of CRISPR-Cas9 for genetic engineering of nile tilapia (oreochromis niloticus): systematic review
Keywords:
CRISPR-Cas9, disease resistance, gene editing, infertility, Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)Abstract
Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is an important aquaculture commodity in Indonesia, but productivity and disease resistance remain major challenges. CRISPR-Cas9 technology offers the potential to precisely improve growth, disease resistance, and other superior traits in a single generation. This study aims to identify technical, biological, and applied challenges in the application of CRISPR-Cas9 in tilapia and strategies that can be used to optimize gene editing results. The research method was conducted using a systematic literature review (SLR) approach to identify the challenges of applying CRISPR-Cas9 in tilapia genetic engineering. The application of CRISPR-Cas9 faces technical challenges such as mosaicism, off-target effects, and low editing efficiency, which can be overcome by optimizing sgRNA, Cas9 quality, injection methods, and multi-omics approaches. Biological challenges include infertility due to reproductive gene mutations, hormonal imbalances, and genetic compensation phenomena, which can be minimized through conditional knockout, rescue experiments, and dual targets. At the application level, mutants are often difficult to utilize due to reduced viability, so marker-based selection strategies, selection of appropriate target genes, and public regulation and socialization are necessary to support successful implementation. CRISPR-Cas9 has great potential to increase the productivity and resilience of tilapia. Its successful implementation requires an integrated approach that combines technical optimization, attention to biological effects, and application strategies that consider regulations and public acceptance.
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