Indian Oil Sardine Genome Decoded

A significant scientific achievement was reached as the genome of the Indian oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps), a popular food fish,

was successfully decoded by researchers at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

This marks the first instance of a marine fish species from the Indian subcontinent having its genome decoded.

This milestone is a crucial development in Indian marine fisheries, offering valuable insights into the biology, ecology, and evolution of the oil sardine.
The decoded genome is expected to aid in the development of improved conservation and sustainable utilization strategies for this fish.

The decoded genome is 1.077 Gb in size and encompasses a total of 46,316 protein-coding genes.
It provides insights into the oil sardine's adaptation to climate change and its nutritional quality, particularly in the biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).