Melissa Allen, our Genomic Lead, recently co-authored a newly published study titled: Application of Genomic Tools to Study and Potentially Improve the Upper Thermal Tolerance of Farmed Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)
With climate change driving rising ocean temperatures and more frequent marine heat waves, the aquaculture industry must find solutions to enhance the thermal resilience of farmed salmon. This study explores the genetic basis of upper thermal tolerance, identifying key genomic markers and gene expression patterns that could help select for more temperature-tolerant fish.
Key Findings:
- Thermal tolerance is a polygenic trait with low/moderate heritability
- Thermal growth coefficient (TGC) at elevated temperatures is highly heritable, offering strong potential for genetic improvement
- Several putative biomarkers were identified, shedding light on mechanisms regulating temperature resilience
Read the full paper here: https://bmcgenomics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12864-025-11482-4