A new genetic tool that can help prevent disease outbreaks and improve yields of farmed oysters has been developed by scientists at the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute.
The technology will enable hatcheries to rapidly assess the genetic makeup of their oysters, so they can select animals with desirable characteristics from which to breed.
The technology relies on a chip loaded with tens of thousands of pieces of DNA -- each carrying a specific fragment of the oyster's genetic code.
Using a tiny sample of DNA from each oyster, the chip can measure small genetic variations -- known as Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms -- that are linked to physical traits.
The
