GUILLETTE, L. J.; IGUCHI, T.; University of Florida; National Institute Basic Biology, Japan: Aquatic Species in Ecosystems at Risk: Genomic Approaches for Assessing Normal and Abnormal Endocrine Responses

There has been a dramatic increase in the data available on the genomic make-up of a number of species in the past decade. With the stimulus of the human genome project, techniques and technology has provided great advances in our ability to obtain genetic information from a wide range of species, and there are extensive databases for members of all vertebrate classes, with the exception of reptiles. Recent advances in our laboratories have begun to fill the gap in this information for reptiles. Given the amazing improvement in technologies for obtaining sequence information and the rapidly expanding technologies for their use, we have a research program that focuses on the development of new genomic and proteomic information and tools for a number of species in wetland ecosystems. These tools, such as mircoarrays, are being used in studies that examine organisms living in ecosystems at risk, such as most aquatic systems in Florida and the southeastern USA. The major focus of this project is to take these studies out of the laboratory and into real world situation examining non traditional species, such as alligators, mosquitofish, frogs and turtles. The tools developed would be of a design that would allow worldwide use and collaboration. Major questions currently being tested include studies of natural and contaminant altered sex determination and reproductive function in fishes and reptiles.