About this Research Topic
Algae have inhabited earth for several billion years, evolving successfully and greatly diversifying. Their unique habitat has endowed them with special and characterized adaptation mechanisms that are different from their land relatives. Algae are the main source of primary productivity in water systems and an important economic resource due to the various products they provide. During the past few decades, there has been rapid progress in biological technology, especially molecular biological techniques, equipping us with many powerful tools such as high-throughput sequencing and genome-scale analysis to promote our knowledge and applications of algal genetics and genetic breeding.
However, challenges emerge during the process to understand algal genetics and genetic breeding. First, most of the metabolic processes of algal species are under-investigated. Second, algae may be among the most representative models of C-value paradox (i.e., some species have a genome size more than 100 times that of humans while exhibiting microscopic observable size). For some macroalgal species, even preparation of high-quality DNA is problematic at present. These facts obstruct the in-depth investigation of the genomes of these species. Third, an applicable genetic verification system for most algal species is scanty, which makes it impossible to provide broadly accepted evidence from reverse genetics. Finally, though algal industrialization has been recognized as indispensable for many regions all over the world, the practice of germplasm innovation is still in the early stages of development and lacks high-efficiency tools. Addressing the above problems necessitates broadly exploiting integrated approaches in molecular biology, such as genome-scale technologies and tools, to make use of the abundant genomes and resources.
The goal of this Research Topic is to collect contributions of high-quality research on algal genetics and genetic breeding. Genetic breeding methods with genome-scale tools and technologies are also welcomed. Studies should add to our understanding of algal genetic backgrounds and the regulation mechanisms of important metabolic processes and further assist in the genetic improvement and germplasm innovation of algal species. We welcome Original Research, Methods, and Review articles on all types of algal species (marine or freshwater) within the following subtopics:
• Genetic dissection via high-throughput means
• Development of breeding approaches with high efficiency
• Germplasm innovation applications with genome-scale tools
• Genomics and proteomics
• Establishment and applications of genome editing technologies
However, challenges emerge during the process to understand algal genetics and genetic breeding. First, most of the metabolic processes of algal species are under-investigated. Second, algae may be among the most representative models of C-value paradox (i.e., some species have a genome size more than 100 times that of humans while exhibiting microscopic observable size). For some macroalgal species, even preparation of high-quality DNA is problematic at present. These facts obstruct the in-depth investigation of the genomes of these species. Third, an applicable genetic verification system for most algal species is scanty, which makes it impossible to provide broadly accepted evidence from reverse genetics. Finally, though algal industrialization has been recognized as indispensable for many regions all over the world, the practice of germplasm innovation is still in the early stages of development and lacks high-efficiency tools. Addressing the above problems necessitates broadly exploiting integrated approaches in molecular biology, such as genome-scale technologies and tools, to make use of the abundant genomes and resources.
The goal of this Research Topic is to collect contributions of high-quality research on algal genetics and genetic breeding. Genetic breeding methods with genome-scale tools and technologies are also welcomed. Studies should add to our understanding of algal genetic backgrounds and the regulation mechanisms of important metabolic processes and further assist in the genetic improvement and germplasm innovation of algal species. We welcome Original Research, Methods, and Review articles on all types of algal species (marine or freshwater) within the following subtopics:
• Genetic dissection via high-throughput means
• Development of breeding approaches with high efficiency
• Germplasm innovation applications with genome-scale tools
• Genomics and proteomics
• Establishment and applications of genome editing technologies
Keywords: algae, genetics, genetic breeding, high-throughput, genome-scale
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
