Question

Which one of the following fish is a genetically improved through selective breeding

• A. Mrigal
• B. Tilapia
• C. Magur
• D. Pangasius

Hint:

GIFT Tilapia is often referred to as the "aquatic chicken" because of its extremely fast growth, high efficiency in converting feed, and widespread commercial farming across the globe.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Selective breeding is a powerful genetic tool used in aquaculture to systematically select and breed superior individuals over generations to improve traits like growth rate, disease resistance, and body conformation.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The GIFT (Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia) strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is a globally famous success story of selective breeding in aquaculture.
Developed by the WorldFish Center (formerly ICLARM) and its partners through several generations of selection, the GIFT strain exhibits dramatically faster growth, higher survival rates, and better feed conversion efficiency compared to wild strains.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The fish that has been genetically improved through selective breeding is Tilapia, corresponding to option (B).