Speaker: Bernarda Calla, Molecular Geneticist, USDA-ARS Pacific Shellfish Research Unit, Hatfield Marine Science Center

Topic:  Leveraging genomics tools for the advancement of shellfish aquaculture

The USDA-ARS Pacific Shellfish Research Unit (PSRU) at the Hatfield Marine Science Center has the long-term goal of improving the sustainability and resiliency of shellfish aquaculture. We have been focusing on Pacific oysters (Magallana gigas) since is the most widely cultivated bivalve in the US Pacific West Coast. Several projects are now underway to gain knowledge on the biology, genetics, and ecology of oysters, these projects heavily rely on state-of-the-art genomics methods and tools. In this seminar, some of the projects from the Calla lab at the PSRU will be presented and discussed covering their relevance and future aims.