Clownfish may have become well-known as a result of the popular film "Finding Nemo," but few people are aware that these appealing orange-and-white fish have enormous scientific potential.
They can help scientists address a wide range of biological problems, from how larvae spread in the open ocean to how coral reef fish will respond to climate change.
Researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) have assembled a full genome of the false clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) to aid in the discovery of these answers.
Clownfish's future
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The false clownfish may be found in both tropical and subtropical waters, and its existence is dependent on sea anemones and consequently the coral reef, as per ScienceDaily.
Their numbers, like those of many other coral reef fish, are anticipated to drop as coral reefs shrink owing to climate change.
This species resembles the actual Nemo, the orange clownfish, although they dwell in different locations.
The orange clownfish may be found in northeastern Australia and certain Pacific Islands, whereas the false clownfish can be found in Okinawa, Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and northwestern Australia.
The genome of the orange clownfish was published a few years ago, therefore it seemed only natural that the genome of the fake clownfish would follow suit for comparative studies.
Although the genome of the fake clownfish has been discovered previously, the latest research generated by far the highest-quality version.
Researchers said that this was owing to the fact that their version was on a chromosomal scale.
The genome of the fake clownfish is akin to a detailed instruction manual housed in each of its cells. It comprises all of the information required for the fish's functioning.
The chromosomes are separated into chapters, which are then divided into pages, which are then divided into genes.
Previously published false clownfish genomes consisted of a jumble of genes or chunks of genes with little understanding of how they were organized on the chromosome.
The genome is more thoroughly constructed in this recent study.
False clownfish were obtained at Onna-son, Okinawa, for this study.
The researchers collected their DNA and RNA and assembled their genomes on a chromosomal size using sequencing techniques.
They might then begin to address some of the biological issues.
The two organisms of clownfish belong to the anemonefish subfamily, which has a total of 28 fish species.
The researchers decided to analyze the genomes of the two species to see what genes they shared that were lacking in the other 26 species.
Sea anemones are sea creatures that reside on the surface of coral reefs, as per the National Geographic. They use stinging cells called nematocysts on their tentacles to capture their prey.
When a tiny animal comes into touch with an anemone's tentacle, nematocysts release poisons.
The stung animal is rendered immobile, allowing the anemone to easily drag it into its mouth for digestion.
While most fish succumb to these venomous stings, clownfish secrete a chemical in their mucus that prevents nematocysts from firing.
This permits the clownfish to float comfortably between anemone tentacles, providing a safe habitat where prospective predators are killed by anemone stings.
This is obviously beneficial to clownfish, but what about sea anemones? It turns out that the clownfish, with its brilliant colors, attract other fish hunting for a meal.
