Stories of children flushing their goldfish down the toilet to set them free in the sea à la Disney’s Finding Nemo may seem a little far-fetched, but everybody’s favorite pet fish is catching up to ocean breeds like the tuna in terms of evolutionary prowess.

The Apex of Evolution (w/t), a one-hour coproduction by Paddington, Australia-based Gulliver Media and China Central Television, will examine the history and fast-paced development of the goldfish – the most genetically modified fish species – and compare this pet to what was thought to be its more highly evolved, sea-faring cousin, the tuna. First domesticated in China during the Tang dynasty, the goldfish has undergone so many genetic makeovers – from color changes to shape-shifting – it should be the Queer Eye boys’ mascot. The US$250,000 doc, which wraps in February 2005, will feature locations in and around China, as well as underwater filming of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

Gulliver is also tackle-ing another fishy copro with CCTV, tentatively titled Dragonfish, which wraps February 2005. This one-hour examines the brightly colored freshwater fish that are bred in large ponds in China and Singapore, and can grow to a meter in length. You wouldn’t want to flush this one down the toilet – some dragonfish can fetch up to $50,000. KV