Gene-Editing Tool Helps Scientists Identify Endangered Salmon

Scientists near San Francisco work to identify a type of endangered fish using a tool that was originally made for treating cancer.

A special machine called Sherlock uses technology that started with CRISPR.

CRISPR is a tool that is able to change the genetic¹ material in specific cells. The technology is now used to change the structure of immune² cells so they can recognize and fight cancer.

The same technology is used in Sherlock. Sherlock, of course, is named after the famous investigator³ Sherlock Holmes.

They do not, however, use Sherlock to change fish cells. Instead, the ocean researchers catch the fish, collect a small amount of mucus and then test the cells to find the genetic makeup⁴ of the fish.

It can be done in about 30 minutes. In the past, the researchers would have to wait weeks or months to get test results.

The technology is extremely helpful when looking at different species⁵ of Chinook salmon⁶, because they look nearly the same. However, some of them are endangered, and the scientists need to keep track of them.

Andrea Schreier is an associate professor at the University of California in Davis. She wrote a paper published in the journal Molecular⁷ Ecology Resources about a similar project with a different kind of fish known as smelt⁸. Now she is working on the salmon.

In the past, the scientists would catch the Chinook salmon and measure them to tell them apart.

"It's not very accurate," she said.

Schreier said when she and her team catch the fish, the Sherlock machine is able to quickly tell them if they have one of the special salmon. It's important because it allows the scientists to do things that will help the endangered salmon live longer. For example, they can catch them in lakes far away from the coast and take them by truck to the San Francisco Bay.

In the past, the fish might have tried to make it to the Bay by swimming in rivers. However, due to climate change, the river water is sometimes too warm for the fish to make the trip safely.

Schreier said she feels good about the project because she likes being able to assist with conservation.

"I really want to work to, you know, maintain our ecosystems⁹ and our native populations as much as possible, given all of the pressures that we humans place on them through our different activities."

Melinda Baerwald is an environmental program manager with the California Department of Water Resources. She also is working on the study.

She said the work the team is doing on getting information about the fish is just one example of how new information about genetics will help people who do work like hers.

"The power of genetics is now unlocked¹⁰ for other people to be able to use. And that's one of the big things that I think is changing how we're going to use this in our area for monitoring."

Words in This Story

endangered - adj. used to describe a type of animal or plant that has become very rare and that could die out completely

mucus –n. a thick liquid produced in some parts of the body

specific –adj. special or particular

accurate –adj. able to produce results that are correct

monitor –v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time

1 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

2 immune   

adj.免疫的，有免疫力的，不受影响的，免除的

参考例句：

• I am immune from the disease,for I had it once.我对这病有免疫力，因为我已得过一次了。
• Be immune from corruption.拒腐蚀，永不沾。

3 investigator   

n.研究者，调查者，审查者

参考例句：

• He was a special investigator for the FBI.他是联邦调查局的特别调查员。
• The investigator was able to deduce the crime and find the criminal.调查者能够推出犯罪过程并锁定罪犯。

4 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

5 species   

n.物种，种群

参考例句：

• Are we the only thinking species in the whole of creation?我们是万物中惟一有思想的物种吗？
• This species of bird now exists only in Africa.这种鸟现在只存在于非洲。

6 salmon   

n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的

参考例句：

• We saw a salmon jumping in the waterfall there.我们看见一条大马哈鱼在那边瀑布中跳跃。
• Do you have any fresh salmon in at the moment?现在有新鲜大马哈鱼卖吗？

7 molecular   

adj.分子的；克分子的

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms.这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。
• For the pressure to become zero, molecular bombardment must cease.当压强趋近于零时，分子的碰撞就停止了。

8 smelt   

v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼

参考例句：

• Tin is a comparatively easy metal to smelt.锡是比较容易熔化的金属。
• Darby was looking for a way to improve iron when he hit upon the idea of smelting it with coke instead of charcoal.达比一直在寻找改善铁质的方法，他猛然想到可以不用木炭熔炼，而改用焦炭。

9 ecosystems   

n.生态系统( ecosystem的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There are highly sensitive and delicately balanced ecosystems in the forest. 森林里有高度敏感、灵敏平衡的各种生态系统。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Madagascar's ecosystems range from rainforest to semi-desert. 马达加斯加生态系统类型多样，从雨林到半荒漠等不一而足。 来自辞典例句

10 unlocked   

v.开锁( unlock的过去式和过去分词 )；开启；揭开；开着，解开

参考例句：

• Don't leave your desk unlocked. 请不要忘记锁好办公桌。
• On no account should you leave the door unlocked. 你无论如何也不应该不锁门。 来自《简明英汉词典》