ABSTRACT
Anthropogenic pollution affects the health of all creatures in the ocean and also affects the health of humans. Aquaculture is a solution to the increased food demand of a growing human population. However, there are several challenges that must be met to make aquaculture productive, feasible, and sustainable, including minimizing the aggravation of marine pollution. Functional genomics provides information about the biomolecules involved in biological defense mechanisms as well as in the restoration of processes altered by contamination. We present here recent research results on the application of different omics methodologies in two important species, Procambarus clarkii, the dominant North American commercial crayfish, and the Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis), a flatfish species with a high potential for use in marine aquaculture diversification. These studies will help to improve a sustainable aquaculture and identify novel potential biomarkers useful for monitoring aquatic environments and assessing the health of the marine ecosystem.
