Some days ago, the international company Benchmark Genetics announced that. Serap Gonen has been appointed as the lead of salmon genomics. Starting January 1, the specialist brings extensive expertise in salmon genetics and breeding, positioning her to drive innovation and performance in Benchmark’s global breeding programs, they explained.
Gonen will lead global genomic innovations to enhance selection in the nucleus and commercial salmon lines, optimize disease resistance traits, and contribute to commercial product design. She will also participate in R&D projects to pioneer new traits and technologies, reinforcing Benchmark’s leadership in aquaculture genetics.
“We are very pleased and excited to welcome Serap to our Benchmark Genetics team. She has an outstanding background in scientific research and its application to salmon breeding and will significantly bolster our team, further improving our products and services,” commented Ross Houston, Director of Genetics and Innovation at the company.
Aquaculture industry’s evolving needs
Gonen completed her Ph.D. in 2015 at the Roslin Institute in Scotland, focusing on the genetics of disease resistance in Atlantic salmon. She continued at the Roslin Institute as a postdoctoral researcher on the optimal use of genomic information and advancing genomic methods for livestock breeding. In 2018, she joined Mowi in Norway as a Senior Geneticist, managing selection for two salmon breeding programs. Most recently, at AquaGen, she optimized salmon and trout breeding program structures.
According to the company, Gonen’s appointment reflects Benchmark’s dedication to leveraging science and innovation to meet the aquaculture industry’s evolving needs.
Genotyping services business
As global aquaculture continues to expand, genetic innovation is vital to optimizing production, resilience, and sustainability. In that sense, Benchmark Genetics molecular genetics team, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, leads this advancement with cutting-edge genotyping services tailored to the needs of global aquaculture producers. Genomic data obtained through genotyping allows the aquaculture breeding and production industry to benefit from more efficient genetic improvement and management of their stocks.
Benchmark Genetics launched their genotyping services business early in 2024 and serves multiple clients worldwide. The molecular genetics laboratory offers highly cost-effective genotyping to clients at competitive prices, ensuring access to world-class technology. Houston stated: “Our genotyping solutions help the global aquaculture industry benefit from genomic technologies at low prices via improved breeding programs, stock management, and research projects.”
Benchmark’s services encompass everything from DNA extraction to quality-controlled data. Clients ship small tissue samples according to simple instructions, and Benchmark handles the rest, including DNA extraction, the genotyping tool purchase, and the genotyping tool selection.
“We pride ourselves on delivering highly accurate and efficient results,” said Carolina Penaloza, who leads the Molecular Genetics program. “Our experience with hundreds of thousands of samples annually ensures reliability and speed,” she added.
Benchmark’s genotyping tools support over 30 species, including Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, whiteleg shrimp, and European oyster. These tools suit genomic selection, genome-wide association studies, parentage assignment, and population diversity and structure analysis. We offer high-density SNP arrays for major species, mid-density arrays for emerging species, and customized panels for developing species, enabling producers to meet specific breeding goals.
Benchmark is specialized in providing customized genotyping solutions designed to meet the specific needs of individual breeding programs. “We work closely with clients to provide the best solutions for their needs, including several partnerships to co-develop tailored genotyping arrays,” explained Shernae Woolley, a geneticist on Benchmark’s team. This client-focused approach is coupled with the team’s world-leading expertise, which has already designed some of the industry’s most widely used genotyping tools.
In the other hand, the Molecular Genetics team is focusing on developing genotyping arrays for various species. In the picture, the SNP array developed for Atlantic salmon is shown.
It is good to remember that Benchmark’s genotyping services are part of the broader Genetics Services division, formerly Akvaforsk Genetics. With expertise spanning more than 40 breeding programs across more than 20 species, they provide unmatched technical support in broodstock management and breeding. “By integrating genotyping with downstream genomic data analysis, we solidify our position as a comprehensive provider of genetic services for the global aquaculture industry,” they said.
