Gene Expression and Manipulation in Aquatic Organisms

The techniques of molecular biology offer a powerful means of investigating and controlling the genetic basis of mechanisms operating in living organisms. The development of these techniques in aquatic animals has now reached the stage where important questions relating to growth, development and adaptation to the environment can be addressed at the level of gene expression, and the introduction and expression of novel genes achieved. This volume presents some of the most exciting advances in this rapidly expanding area, with contributions on the evolution of adaptation to low temperature, adaptation to short-term fluctuations in temperature and salinity, gene expression during growth and development, myosin polymorphism and the generation of transgenic fish. As such, it will be of interest to all those working in the fields of marine and freshwater biology and also to those working in aquaculture.

Preface; 1. Antifreeze glycopeptide heterogeneity and abundance in Antarctic fishes Chi-Hing C. Cheng; 2. Cold inducible gene transcription: delta-9 desaturases and the adaptive control of membrane lipid composition P. E. Tiku, A. Y. Gracey and A. R. Cossins; 3. Ion transport in teleosts: identification and expression of ion transporting proteins in branchial and intestinal epithelia of the European eel C. P. Cutler, I. L. Sanders, G. Like, N. Hazon and G. Cramb; 4. Temperature and adaptation: selective expression of myosin heavy chain genes and muscle function in carp G. Goldspink; 5. Crustacean genes involved in growth A. J. El Haj; 6. Use of the zebrafish for studies involved in the control of development Qiling Xu, K. Griffin, R. Patient and N. Holder; 7. Myosin heavy chain isogene expression in the carp S. Ennion; 8. Rainbow trout myosin heavy chain polymorphism during development L. Gauvry, C. Perez and B. Fauconneau; 9. Transient expression of reporter genes in fish as a measure of promoter efficiency N. Maclean, M. Samsul Alam, A. Iyengar and A. Popplewell; 10. The use of transient lacZ expression in fish embryos for comparative analysis of cloned regulatory elements F. Müller, L. Gauvry, D. Williams, J. Kobolák, N. Maclean, L. Orbán and G. Goldspink; 11. Molecular characterization of prolactin receptor in tilapia P. Prunet, O. Sandra and B. Auperin; Index.

Application of the techniques of molecular biology to aquatic organisms has now advanced to the stage where important questions about growth, development and adaptation can be addressed at the level of gene expression. This volume presents some of the most exciting advances in this rapidly expanding area.