Shark GENETIC & GenomIC RESEARCH
Elasmobranchs are a very successful group of animals that have been on Earth for more than 450 million years. Genomes are the fundamental building blocks of any living thing and studying the elasmobranch genome helps researchers better understand what has made them so successful as species.
The Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University (GHRI) is a worldwide leader in studying elasmobranch (sharks and rays) genetics and genomics. The GHRI and partners have or are currently working on decoding the white shark, shortfin mako shark, and great hammerhead genomes.
73 Million
The GHRI provided the first quantitative estimate of sharks killed per year for the fin trade – upwards of 73 million per year!
Billions & BIllions
Reconstructing a shark genome is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle with billions of pieces.
1st
organization to discover parthenogenesis (virgin birth) in sharks in partnership with GHRI at NSU.
Impact
The GHRI provided the first quantitative estimate of the fishing mortality for sharks due to the international fin trade, determining that upwards of 73 million sharks per year.
The GHRI provided the DNA analysis to identify seafood fraud in restaurants around the country.
The GHRI led a team of researchers to successfully decode the white shark genome for the first time. This information helps determine why sharks are resistant to disease and heal from wounds quickly; traits that could potentially benefit human health.
Shark Genomics Partners
