Journal of Biotechnology
E-ISSN: 2814-1040
Volume 4&5, No. 1, 2026
Pages 1-24
DOI: 10.36108/jbt/6202.540.0110
Effects of Lates niloticus Genomic DNA on Growth, Proximate Composition, and Reproductive Indices of Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)
1DIYAWARE, Mohammed Yakubu, 2WAZIRI, Abubakra Mohammed, 1MOHAMMED, Zanna Barde, 1HASSAN, Mohammed Zakaria, 3ABUBAKAR, Mustapha Bala, 4BUKAR, Mwajim, 5AJIBIKE, Abdulhakeem Biola, 6UMAR, Danladi Mohammed, 7ONYIA, Lucky Uche, and 8SULUMBE, Ibrahim Mustapha
1Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
2Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University, Duste, Nigeria.
3Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
4Northeast Biotechnology Centre, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
5Department of Animal Production Technology, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, Oyo, Nigeria.
6Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Gombe State University, Nigeria
7Department of Fisheries, Modibbo Adamma University, Yola, Nigeria.
8Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria
*Corresponding author Email:mydiyaware@unimaid.edu.ng Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9300-8946
Abstract
The Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is a widely cultivated fish throughout the world. The fish is also an important aquaculture species in Nigeria due to its environmental tolerance, high prolificacy and market dominance. The objectives of this study are to investigate the efficacy of Lates niloticus DNA on growth, proximate composition, and DNA fingerprint of O. niloticus. Various concentrations of DNA (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 μg/μl) extracted from Lates niloticus were injected into the somatic tissue of the O. niloticus fingerlings. The injected fish were raised for 120 days in a polyethylene fish pond (2.5 x 1.5 x 1.2 deep). The results show that fingerlings injected with 40 μg/μl have significantly (P<0.05) better final weight, weight gain, average daily weight gain, specific growth rate, crude protein, and metabolizable energy. Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNAs (RAPD) gel electrophoresis revealed distinct banding patterns among the treated fish. The control fish had 5 bands, while fish injected with 10, 20, 30, and 40 μg/µL had 7, 6, 8, and 9 bands, respectively. Out of 5 loci, 80% were polymorphic. This study revealed that fragmented DNA from L. niloticus moderately integrated into the O. niloticus genome and show the potential to improve growth in Oreochromis niloticus. The DNA of L. niloticus significantly (p<0.05) altered the proximate composition of the fish, especially by enhancing protein content and metabolizable energy. These changes could offer nutritional, economic, and production benefits in Tilapia aquaculture, though further investigation into safety, long-term performance, and consumer acceptance is essential.
Keywords: Aquaculture, DNA Enhancement, Fish, Nile Perch, Somatic cell