It started with the aim of studying the genetic response to heat stress in abalone by looking at the most fascinating of them all: the Tropical abalone (Haliotis asinina). This unique abalone species can tolerate high temperatures (up to 33°C), making it an ideal candidate for studying thermal tolerance in an era of climate change and ocean warming. When the aim is to study any species’ genetics, the most valuable resource is to have a high-quality, annotated genome. The combination of PacBio long-read HiFi sequencing, Iso-Seq, and Dovetail’s Omni-C sequencing allowed the chromosome-level assembly and annotation of such a genome.

The newly decoded genome provides a comprehensive map of the abalone's DNA, unlocking critical insights into its growth, reproduction, immune system, and adaptations to warmer waters.

Researchers can now explore the species' evolutionary history, comparing the tropical abalone genome with other marine molluscs to identify genetic factors that have allowed it to thrive in tropical environments. With climate change posing significant challenges to marine biodiversity, understanding the genomic basis of thermal tolerance in species like tropical abalone could provide vital clues for safeguarding other marine organisms.

As the first tropical abalone genome ever published, this milestone will undoubtedly pave the way for more in-depth studies, bolstering both scientific discovery and the future of marine resource management.