News and Events => Science & Medical News => Topic started by: Shana A on July 16, 2008, 04:10:44 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Transsexual Tilapia?
Post by: Shana A on July 16, 2008, 04:10:44 PM
Post by: Shana A on July 16, 2008, 04:10:44 PM
Transsexual Tilapia?
Ylan Mui
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thecheckout/2008/07/transsexual_tilapia.html?nav=rss_blog (http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thecheckout/2008/07/transsexual_tilapia.html?nav=rss_blog)
I know what you're thinking already. It sounds totally insane. But the tilapia you eat very likely has gone through a sex change.
Let me explain: When we began working on our story about Whole Foods' new farmed seafood standards, one bullet point caught our eye: No Methyl testosterone for sex reversal.
As it turns out, farm-raised tilapia is typically given testosterone in their food when they're very small, for the first 35-40 days of feeding, Whole Foods seafood quality standards coordinator Carrie Brownstein told me. Any fish that were on the path to a womanly fishhood change course to become strapping male tilapia instead, turning the pond into one big fishy frat party.
Ylan Mui
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thecheckout/2008/07/transsexual_tilapia.html?nav=rss_blog (http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thecheckout/2008/07/transsexual_tilapia.html?nav=rss_blog)
I know what you're thinking already. It sounds totally insane. But the tilapia you eat very likely has gone through a sex change.
Let me explain: When we began working on our story about Whole Foods' new farmed seafood standards, one bullet point caught our eye: No Methyl testosterone for sex reversal.
As it turns out, farm-raised tilapia is typically given testosterone in their food when they're very small, for the first 35-40 days of feeding, Whole Foods seafood quality standards coordinator Carrie Brownstein told me. Any fish that were on the path to a womanly fishhood change course to become strapping male tilapia instead, turning the pond into one big fishy frat party.