Genetic and Genomic Approaches in Aquaculture Reproduction: Enhancing Breeding, Performance, and Sustainability
A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Reproduction".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 36
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Aquaculture is vital for ensuring global food security, yet the optimization of reproductive efficiency, breeding outcomes, and sustainability remains challenging. This Special Issue explores the application of genetic and genomic innovations that revolutionize reproduction in farmed aquatic species. We welcome the submission of original research and reviews that address how these tools can enhance reproductive performance, genetic gain, and ecological resilience in aquaculture systems.
We will specifically consider how such molecular approaches improve the efficiency of broodstock utilization, the gamete fertilization rate, and the larval survival rate, thereby producing more healthy larvae with fewer broodstocks and resources; reducing the consumption of water resources and feed; and minimizing inbreeding to maintain genetic diversity. All of these factors collectively ensure the sustainable development of aquaculture. We also welcome interdisciplinary studies that bridge genetics, genomics, reproductive biology, and environmental science.
Scope:
The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:
- Reproductive Trait Improvement: Genomic selection, marker-assisted breeding, and genetic engineering for traits like fecundity, maturation control, fertility, and larval survival.
- Functional Genomics: Transcriptomic, epigenetic, and proteomic insights into reproductive physiology, sex determination, and endocrine regulation.
- Biotechnological Applications: chromosome manipulation, gene editing (e.g., CRISPR), and their role in reproduction management.
- Breeding Program Design: Strategies integrating genomic data to maintain genetic diversity, reduce inbreeding, and accelerate genetic progress.
- Sustainability Integration: Genetic solutions for disease resistance, climate adaptability, and resource efficiency to lower environmental impacts.
- Data-Driven Approaches: AI, machine learning, and bioinformatics for analyzing complex genomic datasets in reproduction research.
Dr. Jing Wei
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- aquaculture reproduction
- genomic selection
- reproductive traits
- genetic diversity
- gene editing
- climate resilience
- artificial intelligence (AI)
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