About this Research Topic
Another potential approach is the preservation of genetic material from individuals of natural populations of fish species in the initial phases of the domestication process and genetic modifications. This helps in maintaining the original wild genotypes for the recovery of genes in the future. Other possible conservation- related uses include the storage of genetic resources of the increasing number of fish in the lists of endangered species, allowing cryobanking for biodiversity.
Fish genome cryobanking has been attempted using different cell types: spermatozoa, oocytes, spermatogonia and primordial germ cells (PGCs), as well as somatic cells, blastomeres and embryos. On the other hand, fish genome cryobanking has been more focused on spermatozoa as the objective of most of the studies, making sperm cryopreservation the most established and commercialized technique. The choice of this type of cell is because it is easy to collect in most of the fish species, has a simple cellular structure and a small size and high chilling resistance, making these cells easy to preserve in many fish species. Moreover, reconstruction of individuals can be done by normal fertilization (or androgenesis), but it allows the preservation of only male germplasm.
There is a lack of experience and knowledge on cryopreservation of other genomic cell types, which are mentioned above. The main challenges to be accomplished during the cryopreservation of genomic cells are cooling, freezing, thawing, some biophysical and chemical processes such as osmotic changes, dehydration and rehydration, cell volume changes, ice crystals formation, cryoprotectants toxicity, etc., occur and cells (gametes or others) are more or less sensitive to these changes.
Although some recent attempts have been made in this regard, new efforts must be made for a complete description and standardization of protocols for cryopreservation of genomic cells apart from sperm. Thus, the aim of this research topic is to attract new information and findings regarding of the present situation of this area of research, solving the main challenges and perspectives, redirecting the scientist to more in-depth recent knowledge.
This Research Topic aims to provide a platform for researchers interested in genomic cell preservation including spermatozoa, oocytes, primordial germ cells (PGCs), somatic cells, blastomers and embryos of marine species through provided topics below:
• Cryopreservation
• Chilled storage
• Conservation
• Cryobanking
• Germ Cell
• Reproduction
• Threatened Marine Species
This Research Topic welcomes original articles related to any of these objectives including reviews and articles summarising the current best practice technical protocols and the potential issues and challenges for further research development.
Keywords: gamete, primordial germ cells (PGCs), somatic cells, embryo, cryopreservation
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.