Genetics 101

The question of fish genetics is of vital importance when stocking is discussed

- Jordan Weeks

One of the most interesting aspects of fisheries science is genetics. The amount of information that can be produced by a small fin clip is monumental! Put together a series of fin clip samples and pair that with hatchery samples, and you really have some scientific power. As I’ve said before, If I could go back and start over, I’d be into fish genetics rather than management.

Anglers like to talk genes, too, but it has been my experience that most anglers could use more information when it comes to genetics. In this article I intend to define some basic genetic terms and begin to build a knowledge base for the readers. Subsequent articles will outline specific genetic findings by researchers all over the United States. By year’s end, I hope we will all be more informed when it comes to muskellunge genetics.

One of the most commonly used terms is “strain.” Scientists refer to this delineation as “stock” and is defined as: “an intraspecific group of randomly-mating individuals with temporal and special integrity.” Separate stocks demonstrate differences in biological characteristics such as growth rate, habitat selection, behavior, or population dynamics.