Now Atlantic salmon species will have its genome fully sequenced because researchers and funded agencies from Canada, Chile and Norway have entered into collaboration. It is reported that Genome BC is partnering with the Chilean Economic Development Agency, InnovaChile, Norwegian Research Council, Norwegian Fishery and Aquaculture Industry Research Fund to form the International Cooperation to Sequence the Atlantic Salmon Genome (Cooperation).
It is said that the collaboration has planned to invest approximately US$6 million in phase one of a multi-phased project to produce a genome sequence that identifies and maps all of the genes in the Atlantic salmon genome and can act as a reference/guide sequence for the genomes of other salmonids. Experts believe that the sequenced genome will be an important public resource that may lead to better management of wild fish stocks, breeding selection for commercially important traits, and elements of food quality, security and traceability.
Dr. Ben Koop sits on the Cooperation’s Executive Science Committee. He said that this project is an international effort to address – in a whole new way – questions that are of economic and social importance to aquaculture, conservation, and the environment. Genome BC’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Pierre Meulien is of view that the genomic data that we will acquire will be crucial to the development of new methods and products that will assist the world’s wild fisheries and aquaculture industries.
Dr. Sigbjørn Lien of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and the Cooperation’s Executive Science Committee, said that this research investment will result in an invaluable resource that can be used by any research group around the world.
