Research Projects

Cell Ag Crustaceans

Identifying the growth factors involved in crustacean muscle growth

Lisa Musgrove
University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia

cell

Overview

Who: Lisa Musgrove, bachelor’s student in biotechnology

When: 2020 – Present

Institutes: University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia

Supervisors: Tomer Ventura, senior lecturer at University of the Sunshine Coast

Summary

Lisa is working to establish Redclaw crayfish cell culture for the production of cultured seafood. Using transcriptomic data – information about the active genetic material in a cell – Lisa is identifying growth factors active during limb regeneration and therefore important for crayfish muscle cell growth. She hopes this information will help to establish the first successful Redclaw muscle cell line.

Why This Matters

Most of the research involving cell-cultured seafood is focused on fish; there’s a substantial knowledge gap when it comes to crustaceans. Lisa’s work could help close that gap, opening the door to further research in Redclaw crayfish (a delicacy in Australia!) and other crustacean species.