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FRIMEDBIO-Fri prosj.st. med.,helse,biol

Unveiling the evolutionary and functional impact of genomic structural variants of Atlantic salmon

Alternative title: How does genomic variation contribute to organismal diversity in Atlantic salmon?

Awarded: NOK 8.0 mill.

This project will investigate how genomic variants contribute to the diversity and evolution of Atlantic salmon by combining large-scale computational genomics and cutting-edge gene-editing technology. This study will establish an analytical pipeline to understand the effects of genomic variants on the biological feature and evolution of various species, including aqua- and agricultural species and endangered species.

Genomic structural variants contribute largely to phenotypic diversity, including disease susceptibility, metabolism, morphology and growth traits. However, due to their complex nature, which and how structural variants have contributed to adaptive evolution with functional advantage are yet to be clarified. To identify adaptive structural variants and clarify their phenotypic advantage at the molecular scale, I propose (1) cutting-edge bioinformatics approaches that integrate multiple omics data sets (population genomics, gene expression during development, and aquaculture traits) and (2) functional investigation with gene-editing technology at the cellular and organismal levels. This project will link how genomic structural variants contribute to the phenotypic diversity including aquacultural traits and adaptive evolution in domesticated Atlantic salmon populations. On a broader scale, this study will establish a pipeline to investigate the phenotypic and evolutionary effect of structural variants in non-model organisms, including aqua- and agricultural species and endangered species. Understanding genetic diversity also contributes to the sustainable maintaining of both wild and farmed Atlantic salmons.

Funding scheme:

FRIMEDBIO-Fri prosj.st. med.,helse,biol

Funding Sources