The complementary DNA(cDNA)encoding the prepeptide growth hormone(pre-GH)from tilapia(Oreochromis mossambicus;om)has been cloned and sequenced.The cDNAwas derived by reverse transcription of RNA from total RNA of the pituitary gland using themethod of polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and oligonucleotide primers specific for fishgrowth hormone as amplification primers.The omGH cDNA encoded a pre-hormone of204 amino acid residues.The nucleotide sequence of omGH showed greater than 98%homology with that of Tilapia niloticus indicating a high degree of conservation for GHcDNAs sequence within the genus Tilapia.Mature omGH cDNA was inserted in anEscherichia coil expression vector(pQE30 vector,the pQE30 vector containing a 6×Hisaffinity tag),and a protein of about 22 kDa was expressed in E.coli cells.The bacteriallyexpressed omGH protein,contained within the inclusion body pellet,was dissolved in 8 Murea,and purified in a Ni-NTA column.Both the cloned tilapia(O.mossambicus)gene andthat of T.niloticusis were divided into 6 exons and 5 introns.Comparison of the omGHgenomic DNA sequence with that of Tilapia niloticus showed a homology of approximately97%.This is significant from an evolutionary standpoint,suggesting a high degree ofconservation for the GH gene within the genus Tilapia.