International Journal of Marine Science, 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 295-303 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ijms 295 Review Article Open Access Genomic Basis of Environmental Adaptation inAscidians Lingfei Jin Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: lingfei.jin@jicat.org International Journal of Marine Science, 2024, Vol.14, No.5, doi: 10.5376/ijms.2024.14.0033 Received: 30 Jun., 2024 Accepted: 15 Aug., 2024 Published: 09 Sep., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Jin, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproductio4n in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Jin L.F., 2024, Genomic basis of environmental adaptation in Ascidians, International Journal of Marine Science, 14(5): 295-303 (doi: 10.5376/ijms.2024.14.0033) Abstract Ascidians is a type of invertebrate widely distributed in the ocean, adapted to various environmental niches and distributed from intertidal zones to extreme deep-sea environments. Studying the genomic adaptability of sea squirts is of great significance for understanding the survival strategies of marine invertebrates in complex environments. This study explores the genomic basis of adaptive evolution of sea squirts in different environments, including genomic features, molecular mechanisms related to environmental stress, genetic basis of habitat specialization, and the impact of symbiotic relationships on their genome. In addition, attention has been paid to the impact of environmental pressures such as climate change and pollution on the adaptive evolution of sea squirts, providing new insights into the evolution and adaptability research of marine invertebrates. Keywords Genomic adaptation; Ascidians; Environmental stress; Habitat specialization; Symbiotic relationships 1 Introduction Ascidians, commonly known as sea squirts, are a diverse group of marine invertebrates belonging to the Phylum Chordata, Class Ascidiacea. They play a crucial role in the ecology of marine benthic communities, often forming dense populations on submerged surfaces. Ascidians are found in a variety of marine environments, from shallow coastal waters to the deep sea, and exhibit a wide range of morphological and ecological adaptations (Nydam et al., 2021). The botryllid Ascidians, for instance, include 53 colonial species that thrive in temperate, tropical, and subtropical waters, showcasing their ability to adapt to different environmental conditions. Understanding the genomic basis of environmental adaptation in Ascidians is essential for several reasons. Firstly, Ascidians occupy a unique evolutionary position at the boundary between invertebrates and vertebrates, making them valuable models for studying evolutionary processes. Secondly, many Ascidian species are invasive, spreading rapidly across the globe and impacting local ecosystems. Investigating the genetic mechanisms underlying their invasive capabilities can provide insights into managing and mitigating their spread (Wei et al., 2020). Additionally, Ascidians harbor diverse microbial communities that are species-specific and tissue-specific, which can have significant implications for their health and ecological interactions (Chen et al., 2016). The study of these microbial associations through genomic approaches can reveal new aspects of symbiosis and microbial ecology (Chen et al., 2016). This study will explore the genetic and molecular mechanisms that enable sea squirts to thrive in diverse and often challenging marine environments. Covers key findings from recent genomic studies, including the identification of gene families involved in stress response, immune function, and metabolic pathways that contribute to environmental adaptation. The study will provide a valuable resource for researchers interested in evolutionary biology, ecology, and genomics at Scian. 2 Genomic Features of Ascidians 2.1 General structure of ascidiangenomes Ascidians, also known as sea squirts, possess genomes that exhibit unique structural characteristics. The genome of the leathery sea squirt, Styela clava, for instance, is approximately twice the size of that of Ciona intestinalis typeA(C. robusta), despite having a comparable number of genes. This expansion is attributed to an increase in
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