Training Manual ICAR Short course on Application of advanced molecular methods in marine fishery resource management, conservation and sustainable mariculture

Abstract

Molecular Biology and Biotechnology has undergone incredible progress in this decade mainly due to the rapid advancements in DNA sequencing technologies. Marine biology and fishery science also reaped the fruits of these modern inventions improving our understanding regarding complex adaptations in aquatic organisms. Fish Genetics have evolved into genomics incorporating knowledge about neutral and non-neutral markers. A project called Genome 10k was started by the international community of scientists for sequencing the genome of 10000 vertebrates. Whole genomes of many marine organisms are now available which provided insights into the evolution of many important traits. Transcriptome sequencing provides insights into expressed genes and metagenome sequencing provides information regarding the microbes present in environment. All these technologies are rapid and cost effective. Over years, these technologies provided exciting opportunities for understanding ecology and evolution. Genomic information can also be sustainably utilized to enhance productivity of mariculture activities by selective breeding, genetic improvement and manipulation of economically important traits. ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute has contributed significantly to marine biotechnology research in the country and played a pivotal role in development of marine fisheries sector. The short course on “Application of advanced molecular methods in marine fisheries resource management, conservation and sustainable mariculture” conducted in ICAR-CMFRI from 24th October, 2018 to 2nd November, 2018 is specially designed to provide exposure to various applications of molecular tools in fisheries resource management, conservation of biodiversity and mariculture. I hope this compendium of lectures and protocols will be extremely useful for the participants to effectively utilize the knowledge in their own area of research. Simultaneously, on behalf of ICAR-CMFRI, I warmly welcome all the participants from various institutions and wish them all success in their future endeavors. I am sure that this training will result in new knowledge, collaborations and friendships