Marine biology has always played an important role in biological research, being at the origin of many key advances. To a certain extent, the influence of marine biology on the biological sciences was overshadowed over a period of several years by the remarkable advances that were made using powerful model organisms from terrestrial environments. This situation is now changing again, however, due primarily to spectacular developments in genomic methodologies that have significantly accelerated research in a broad spectrum of marine biology disciplines ranging from biodiversity to developmental biology to biotechnology. The data generated by marine genomics projects have had an impact on questions as diverse as understanding planetary geochemical cycles, the impact of climate change on marine fauna and flora, the functioning of marine ecosystems, the discovery of new organisms and novel biomolecules, and investigation of the evolution of animal developmental complexity. This book represents the first attempt to document how genomic technologies are revolutionising these diverse domains of marine biology. Each chapter of this book looks at how these technologies are being employed in a specific domain of marine research and provides a summary of the major results obtained to date. The book as a whole provides an overview of marine genomics as a discipline and represents an ideal starting point for exploring this rapidly developing domain.

This detailed volume provides an overview of recent advances in the application of genomic technologies in several domains of marine biology, raising awareness of various DNA- and RNA-based technologies. Genomic methods are essential in identifying previously undetected taxonomic (e.g. DNA barcoding), genetic (e.g. sequencing), and functional (e.g. gene expression, analysis of metabolites) diversity, as shown in the chapters of this book, with sections focusing on next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, bioinformatics in marine genomics research, marine biotechnology, as well as a variety of methods successfully applied in fish. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Marine Genomics: Methods and Protocols highlights the utility of numerous lab protocols and their potential to provide deeper insight into physiological and ecological mechanisms in marine life.

Marine genomics is a vast field that encompasses various disciplines, reflecting the immense diversity of marine environments and the organisms that inhabit them. Given that the world's oceans cover 70% of the planet and are home to an estimated 2.2 million eukaryotic marine species, this diversity comes as no surprise. Marine genomics tackles a wide range of fundamental questions by employing cutting-edge genomic approaches tailored to marine species. This book explores these approaches, delving into topics such as evolutionary development in basal marine animals, population connectivity, adaptation to environmental change, and the integration of genomic data with functional concepts.The book provides comprehensive coverage of these topics, shedding light on the exciting discoveries enabled by genome-based research in marine (and freshwater) organisms. It emphasizes the significance of genomic approaches within the broader framework of environmental science, showcasing how genomic insights contribute to our understanding of marine ecosystems. The researchers and scholars from various disciplines, such as marine biology, genomics, evolutionary biology, environmental science, and related fields will find this book valuable. It appeals to individuals seeking a comprehensive overview of the current state of marine genomics and its applications. The book is valuable to both experts in the field who wish to deepen their understanding of specific topics and newcomers who seek an introduction to the subject. Its interdisciplinary nature makes it suitable for professionals interested in the intersection of genomics, ecology, and marine sciences.

Population genomics has provided unprecedented opportunities to unravel the mysteries of marine organisms in the oceans' depths. The world's oceans, which make up 70% of our planet, encompass diverse habitats and host numerous unexplored populations and species. Population genomics studies of marine organisms are rapidly emerging and have the potential to transform our understanding of marine populations, species, and ecosystems, providing insights into how these organisms are evolving and how they respond to different stimuli and environments. This knowledge is critical for understanding the fundamental aspects of marine life, how marine organisms will respond to environmental changes, and how we can better protect and preserve marine biodiversity and resources. This book brings together leading experts in the field to address critical aspects of fundamental and applied research in marine species and share their research and insights crucial for understanding marine ecosystem diversity and function. It also discusses the challenges, opportunities and future perspectives of marine population genomics.

This book provides comprehensive coverage on current trends in marine omics of various relevant topics such as genomics, lipidomics, proteomics, foodomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, nutrigenomics, pharmacogenomics and toxicogenomics as related to and applied to marine biotechnology, molecular biology, marine biology, marine microbiology, environmental biotechnology, environmental science, aquaculture, pharmaceutical science and bioprocess engineering.

In recent years, marine genomics has become a rapidly growing field, helped by the large amount of information that is becoming available to the international scientific community. Taking into account the current excitement in the field of marine biotechnology, this Special Issue entitled “Genome Mining and Synthetic Biology in Marine Natural Product Discovery” aims to to assess the impact of these molecular approaches on the discovery of bioactive compounds from marine organisms. The term “genome mining” is used to identify all bioinformatic investigations aimed at detecting the biosynthetic pathways of bioactive natural products and their possible functional and chemical interactions. Several studies are now reporting on marine organisms. Oceans cover nearly 70% of the Earth’s surface and host a huge ecological, chemical, and biological diversity. The natural conditions of the sea favor, in marine organisms, the production of a large variety of novel molecules with great pharmaceutical potential. Marine organisms are unique in their structural and functional features compared to terrestrial ones. Innovation in this field is very rapid, as revealed by the funding of several Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and Horizon 2020 projects under the topic “Blue Growth”, with the urgent goal of discovering new drugs.