Revolution on a plate: the Chinese have created boneless carp (3 photos)
It's been a while since we discussed genetically modified food. And then, in December 2025, Chinese scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences unveiled a new breed of carp called Zhongke No. 6—a real dream for those who love fish but hate handling bones. 
In short, this fish is specifically designed for those who are extremely afraid of choking on bones. This genetically modified, lethal carp has no small intermuscular bones at all. Those same Y-shaped bones, of which there are usually around 80 in a single fish, which turn a meal into a minefield. 
A team led by Academician Gui Jianfang struggled with these bones for six years. They finally succeeded in disabling two variants of the runx2b gene—Cgrunx2b-A and Cgrunx2b-B—responsible for the formation of these small bones in the muscles. The main skeleton, consisting of the spine and ribs, remained intact, and the fish grew normally, retaining the flavor and texture of its meat. 
Intermuscular bone phenotypes and mutated genotypes in the Cgrunx2b-A and Cgrunx2b-B mutants of lethal carp./Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Kansk Academy of Sciences
The new carp grows faster, is more resistant to diseases, and requires less feed. This makes it an ideal candidate for industrial farming. The study was conducted as part of a carp breeding program. Similar developments were previously conducted for other carp species (crucian carp, grass carp) starting in 2022–2023, but this one has proven to be the most successful. Mass production is expected in the coming years. Would you dare to try it?
