China unveils boneless "crucian carp," a new breakthrough that "astonishes" the scientific community.

Chinese scientists have successfully developed the boneless, tender-fleshed, nutritious, easy-to-prepare, and disease-resistant Gibel Zhongke No. 6, marking a major breakthrough in aquaculture and food safety.

Chinese scientists have just announced a remarkable breakthrough in the field of aquaculture and food safety by successfully developing a boneless crucian carp strain using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology. This achievement is considered a biological breakthrough by experts, opening up many opportunities for the production, processing, and consumption of freshwater fish in the future.

On December 23, a research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced the creation of a new variety of Gibel carp called Zhongke No. 6. This is a robust fish with no small bones but retaining a strong main skeleton, making it suitable for large-scale commercial production. This new variety is the result of six years of continuous research under the "Precision Design and Breeding" program.

The Gibel crucian carp ( Carassius gibelio ) is one of the most popular freshwater fish in Asia, loved by many for its tender, flavorful meat and high nutritional value. However, a major drawback of this fish is its system of over 80 small, Y-shaped bones located between the muscle fibers. These bones not only make eating difficult but also pose a potential danger, especially for children and the elderly.

To address this limitation, the research team decoded the complex genome of the Gibel carp and identified the runx2b gene – considered the "architect" directing the development of the small bones. Using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology, they removed this gene at the embryonic stage, completely disabling the mechanism of small bone formation, while the main skeletal system continued to develop normally, ensuring the fish's body structure and overall health.

The remarkable aspect of Zhongke No. 6 is not just the elimination of small bones. This fish breed is also optimized in many ways: high productivity, good disease resistance, adaptability to high-density farming conditions, and lower feed requirements while maintaining high-quality protein content. Therefore, Zhongke No. 6 is expected to become a key commercial fish breed, contributing to improved production efficiency and reduced costs in the aquaculture industry.

According to experts, this project is a significant milestone in the application of gene editing technology to agriculture and food. It opens up prospects for developing a new generation of food that is safer, easier to process, and more friendly to consumer health.

Zhang Wei, the research team leader, shared: "Removing the small bones while preserving the main bone is a major breakthrough. We hope Zhongke No. 6 will create a more convenient dining experience and reduce risks for consumers, especially children and the elderly."

Furthermore, the project affirms the power of CRISPR-Cas9 in reshaping aquaculture species, thereby expanding its application in improving nutritional value, disease resistance, and optimizing production costs. Scientists believe that in the near future, this technology could be applied to many other fish species, from carp and tilapia to rare freshwater fish, creating a smarter, more efficient, and safer aquaculture industry.

A network selling 10 tons of frozen scad fish contaminated with formaldehyde has been exposed. Thảo Vi14:13:18 23/12/2025On the morning of December 23, Thanh Hoa Provincial Police discovered a tractor-trailer transporting over 10 tons of frozen scad fish imported from China, intended for distribution along National Highway 1A. Testing revealed that all the fish contained formaldehyde, a substance absolutely prohibited in food.