Abstract
Background
The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens, also known as the betta) is well known in aquarium markets, and also presents an exciting new research model for studying parental care, aggressive behavior, and cryptically diverse pigmentation. However, concentrated efforts are required, both in the context of conservation biology and in its genetics, to address the problems of ongoing outbreeding depression, loss of biodiversity, and lack of scientific biological information.
Objective
The evolutionary dynamics of the betta must be better understood at the genomic scale in order to resolve the phylogenetic status of unrecognized species, develop molecular markers to study variation in traits, and identify interesting sets of genes encoding various bioresource functions.
Methods
The recent revolution in multi-omics approaches such as genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, and proteomics has uncovered genetic diversity and gained insights into many aspects of betta bioresources.
Results
Here, we present current research and future plans in an ongoing megaproject to characterize the betta genome as de novo assemblies, genes and repeat annotations, generating data to study diverse biological phenomena. We highlight key questions that require answers and propose new directions and recommendations to develop bioresource management to protect and enhance the betta genus.
Conclusion
Successful accomplishment of these plans will allow the creation of a reference annotated genome and provide valuable information at the molecular level that can be utilized to sustain biodiversity and eco-management of the betta to improve breeding programs for future biomedical research.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the National Research Council of Thailand and Kasetsart University for supporting our research plan and grants. We thank the Plakad association, Thailand for providing information about Betta spp. in Thailand. We are grateful to Napavarn Noparatnaraporn from Kasetsart University, Soranuth Sirisuay from the Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, Sukumal Prukudom and Kannika Siripattarapravat from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University for very kind suggestion and discussion.
Funding
This research was financially supported by a grant from the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT/16/2563) (awarded to KS, WS, NL, NS, AS, KJ, TP, RP, NA, JC, PD, SD, and NM), the Center for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, National Research University-Kasetsart University (awarded to KS), the Thailand Research Fund (nos. RSA6180075, PHD60I0014, and PHD60I0082) through a grant awarded to KS, WS, and AS, the Science Achievement Scholarship of Thailand (no. 5917400296) through a grant from the Office of the Higher Education Commission, Thailand (awarded to NL), a grant from the Graduate Scholarship Program of the Graduate School, Kasetsart University, Thailand (awarded to TP and KS), a Postdoctoral Researcher award at Kasetsart University (awarded to SFA and KS), and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES) (no. 88882.433287/2019-01) awarded to MJ.
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Srikulnath, K., Singchat, W., Laopichienpong, N. et al. Overview of the betta fish genome regarding species radiation, parental care, behavioral aggression, and pigmentation model relevant to humans. Genes Genom 43, 91–104 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13258-020-01027-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13258-020-01027-2