1 Genomics in the Discovery and Monitoring
5
Fig. 1.3 Exploring linkages between genomic information and ecosystem function (after Witham
et al. 2008). See text for further information. SSR, simple sequence repeats
of synonymous and non-synonymous polymorphisms. Third, genes with signature
of selection can be subjected to functional analysis such as gene expression using
microarrays or quantitative PCR. Finally, the link to community and ecosystems can
be tackled using common garden experiments and wild populations.
Genomic applications to management of marine biota are at an early phase, but
we identify opportunities in relation to relevant genetic and evolutionary principles. Exciting and novel opportunities now exist to detect and recognize life history
stages and new species that hitherto remained inaccessible to classical taxonomic
methods, such as high throughput DNA barcoding (Hebert et al. 2003) and metagenomics (Allen and Banfield 2005, DeLong 2005). Moreover, the ability to target
specific gene structure and function has led to the discovery of new metabolic pathways (Venter et al. 2004) thereby increasing our ability to understand and explore
functional links among marine biota, ecological processes and novel marine products. Such interrelationships coincide with the ecosystem approach to conservation
5
Fig. 1.3 Exploring linkages between genomic information and ecosystem function (after Witham
et al. 2008). See text for further information. SSR, simple sequence repeats
of synonymous and non-synonymous polymorphisms. Third, genes with signature
of selection can be subjected to functional analysis such as gene expression using
microarrays or quantitative PCR. Finally, the link to community and ecosystems can
be tackled using common garden experiments and wild populations.
Genomic applications to management of marine biota are at an early phase, but
we identify opportunities in relation to relevant genetic and evolutionary principles. Exciting and novel opportunities now exist to detect and recognize life history
stages and new species that hitherto remained inaccessible to classical taxonomic
methods, such as high throughput DNA barcoding (Hebert et al. 2003) and metagenomics (Allen and Banfield 2005, DeLong 2005). Moreover, the ability to target
specific gene structure and function has led to the discovery of new metabolic pathways (Venter et al. 2004) thereby increasing our ability to understand and explore
functional links among marine biota, ecological processes and novel marine products. Such interrelationships coincide with the ecosystem approach to conservation