The turbot: the first vertebrate to be sequenced in Spain

• Main Authors: Gabinete de Presidencia CSIC, Departamento de Comunicación CSIC
• Format: Moving Image (Video)
• Language: English
• Published: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España) 2016
• Subjects: Gabinete; Turbot
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/242075

Datos técnicos: 2 minutos, color, español. Ficha técnica: Gabinete de Presidencia CSIC y Departamento de Comunicación The first vertebrate to be genetically sequenced in Spain, the Turbot (Scopththalmus maximus), has a much more highly developed sense of sight than other fish, since it has evolved in order to adapt itself to the lack of light on the sea bed. In addition, its genes show us that the levels of fat in its cellular membranes are far higher than in other species, so as to be able to withstand the low water temperatures in its habitat. The complete genome sequencing of this fish, carried out by scientists from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the University of Santiago de Compostela, and Spain’s National Centre for Genome Analysis in Barcelona have brought this and other conclusions to light. The work opens the way for further investigation, not only into the Turbot’s resistance to different illnesses, but also to look more deeply into how other fish respond to these pathologies. The results, published in the magazine DNA Research, could be used in the future design of genetic selection programmes, or in possible vaccines. No