Aquaculture (Fish and
Other Water Animals) Genome Effort
The long-term goal of the Aquaculture Genome
Effort is to enhance disease resistance of
catfish by mapping quantitative trait loci
(QTL), marker-assisted selection, genetic
engineering, or introgression of valuable
disease resistance QTLs from both channel
catfish and blue catfish. NIFA-supported,
collaborative research efforts involve scientists
from Auburn University, Purdue University,
and the University of Illinois. The research
will produce genomic resources to accelerate
linkage and QTL mapping using comparative
genome mapping.
Significant progress to date is marked by
these achievements:
- More than 30,000 Expressed Sequence Tags
(ESTs) have been sequenced, of which about
13,000 have been deposited to dbEST database;
data analysis of the remaining clones is
under way.
- More than 1,000 unique genes containing
microsatellites have been identified; many
additional microsatellite-containing genes
are being identified through bioinformatic
analysis.
- More than 160 unique genes containing
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs) have
been identified, of which 20 have been
validated. Additional SNPs are being identified
and validated.
- Mapping of the type I microsatellites
and SNPs is under way.
Two key genomic tools produced through these
collaborative efforts are the ESTs and the
type I markers, including both type I microsatellites
and SNPs. The most important application
of these resources is to allow comparative
genomics and functional genomics in aquaculture
(fish and other water) species. This alone
will translate into savings of millions of
dollars in research efforts and capitalize
on research progress for other species, including
human, mouse, bovine, swine, chicken, sheep,
and horse. The zebrafish and pufferfish,
whose entire genome is almost completely
sequenced, have been particularly helpful
in advancing this research.
Upon generation of EST sequences, unique
ESTs will be identified and made available
to the research community for use in cDNA
microarray technology. The ESTs and EST microarrays
will add a new dimension to fish disease
research. This project is a basic scientific
research project that focuses on discovery
and its practical applications can be long
term. In the meantime, this project will
accelerate research progress toward genetic
enhancement in disease resistance.
The long-term economic impact is tremendous,
considering that a 30 percent improvement
in disease resistance translates into $45
million reduction in annual loss caused by
diseases.
Contact: Zhanjiang
(John) Liu, Auburn University.
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