Epigenetics in Aquaculture

This essential guide will allow you to understand how new developments in our knowledge of epigenetic mechanisms and epigenetic inheritance can be applied to improve aquaculture production and aquatic resource management and conservation.

Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression that are independent of alterations in the nucleotide sequence. It integrates genomic and environmental influences to shape the phenotype. Epigenetics is a field with particular relevance to aquaculture and aquatic organisms, since it underpins acclimatory responses to diverse and changing environments and inheritance of desired phenotypes.

Epigenetics in Aquaculture provides a comprehensive introduction to epigenetics, epigenetic mechanisms, epigenetic inheritance, and research methods. It also provides the current state of the art on research and development on epigenetics in the major functions of aquatic organisms in the framework of aquaculture production. The fact that aquaculture is the fastest-growing sector of food production makes the book especially timely.

Readers will also find:

• Detailed treatment of subjects including aquatic faunal reproduction, sex determination, growth regulation, nutritional programming, disease resistance, stress response and much more
• Survey of current research lacunae and the projected future of the discipline
• An authorial team of internationally renowned experts

Epigenetics in Aquaculture is a valuable reference for researchers, biologists and advanced students in any area of marine science, oceanography, aquaculture, environmental science, and food production.

Francesc Piferrer is Research Professor and Head of the Reproductive Physiology and Environmental Epigenetics Group at the Institute of Marine Sciences, Spanish National Research Council, Barcelona, Spain.

Hanping Wang is Principal Scientist, Research Professor, and Director of the Ohio Center for Aquaculture Research and Development at The Ohio State University, Piketon, Ohio, USA.