Molecular Genetics in Aquaculture: Practical Applications for Sustainable Production

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Aquatic Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 149

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
Interests: genetic marker; fish breeding; multi-omics; sex determination; genetic mechanism

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
Interests: reproductive development; sex determination; gametogenesis; meiotic process and associated regulatory mechanisms

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
Interests: reproductive development; fish genetic breeding; multi-omics; genomic genetic variation; genetic mechanism

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aquaculture stands as a critical pillar of global food security, tasked with meeting increased demand for animal protein amidst environmental challenges. Modern advancements in genomics, transcriptomics, and gene editing are revolutionizing our understanding of key aquaculture traits. Researchers can now identify the genetic basis of disease resistance, thermal tolerance, feed conversion efficiency, and reproductive control. Through molecular marker-assisted genomic breeding, sex-controlled breeding, hybridization breeding, etc., the development of superior, resilient broodstock is accelerating. Furthermore, functional genomics is uncovering the molecular pathways underlying economic and adaptive traits, offering precise targets for genetic improvement. This Special Issue will showcase cutting-edge research that bridges the gap between molecular discovery and practical aquaculture solutions. By harnessing genetic potential, we can pave the way for a more productive, resilient, and sustainable aquaculture industry.

This Special Issue will compile papers presenting both fundamental and applied research on the application of molecular genetics to enhance aquaculture sustainability. Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: molecular breeding, genomic selection, genetic markers, molecular mechanisms of disease resistance, gene editing for enhancing thermotolerance and growth traits, functional genomics of reproduction for controlled spawning and larval quality, stress response, and integrating omics to decipher complex production traits.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ming Wen
Dr. Yuqin Shu
Dr. Shi Wang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • genomic selection
  • disease resistance
  • gene editing
  • sustainable aquaculture
  • broodstock development
  • climate resilience
  • feed efficiency
  • sex control
  • multi-omics
  • molecular breeding

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 1148 KB  
Article
Polymorphisms and Expression Characteristics of the ZSWIM7 Gene Are Associated with the Fertility of Male Allotetraploid of Red Crucian Carp × Common Carp
by Tao Dai, Minglin Dong, Siyang He, Weiling Qin, Conghui Yang and Yi Zhou
Animals 2026, 16(2), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16020352 (registering DOI) - 22 Jan 2026
Abstract
Allotetraploid fish produced by distant hybridization are valuable germplasm for the mass production of sterile triploids. The allotetraploid crucian–carp hybrid (4nAT, 4n = 200) is derived from the intergeneric cross between a female red crucian carp (Carassius auratus red var., 2n = [...] Read more.
Allotetraploid fish produced by distant hybridization are valuable germplasm for the mass production of sterile triploids. The allotetraploid crucian–carp hybrid (4nAT, 4n = 200) is derived from the intergeneric cross between a female red crucian carp (Carassius auratus red var., 2n = 100) and a male common carp (Cyprinus carpio L., 2n = 100). However, after 33 successive generations, this lineage faces a critical bottleneck in maintaining male fertility. The present study aimed to develop new biomarkers for testicular development and characterize the associated functional gene expression profile in 4nAT. Following whole-genome resequencing and selection signature analysis of 15 male 4nAT individuals from each of the high-development group (HDG) and low-development group (LDG), ZSWIM7 (Zinc Finger SWIM-Type Containing 7), a gene implicated in reproductive development, was selected as a candidate for further fertility association studies. Seven SNPs were screened in the coding region of ZSWIM7 of 70 4nAT males; among these, SNP3 (c.23T/C) exhibited a significant correlation between genotypes and testicular development: individuals with the CT genotype showed a higher gonadosomatic index (1.17 ± 0.68 vs. 0.65 ± 0.50) and greater counts of mature spermatozoa (2537.67 ± 283.95 vs. 341.56 ± 121.66) compared to those with the TT genotype. Further quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence assays demonstrated that ZSWIM7 was highly expressed in the testis and specifically localized to the nuclei of early meiotic primary spermatocytes. Collectively, these results establish ZSWIM7 as a promising biomarker for 4nAT testicular development, offering a potential molecular tool for maintaining male fertility in allotetraploid fish breeding. Full article
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