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Aquatic Biotechnology Lab
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The lab explores the mechanisms of life through the genes of aquatic organisms, from fish and shellfish to dolphins.
AboutAbout the lab
Exploring the life phenomena of aquatic organisms through their genes
The Aquatic Biotechnology Lab studies the genes and proteins of organisms that live in water, such as fish, shellfish, and plankton.
The lab investigates how genes and proteins are involved in life phenomena such as development, growth, adaptation to the environment, reproduction, and aging.
Using methods from genetic engineering, biochemistry, and cell biology, the lab also carries out genome analysis and studies of the functions of RNA.
Its subjects range widely from bacteria to dolphins and whales, and its work covers both basic and applied research.
Key terms
- Genome
- The complete set of genetic information that an organism has. It is written as the base sequence of DNA.
- Small RNA
- A short RNA that does not serve as a blueprint for a protein. It regulates the activity of other genes.
- Next-generation sequencer
- An instrument that can read the base sequences of DNA or RNA in large quantities and at high speed.
NewsLab news
A student received the Student Excellent Poster Presentation Award at the Japan Society for Marine Biotechnology
A doctoral student received the Student Excellent Presentation Award at the Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
A doctoral student received the Student Excellent Poster Presentation Award at the Japanese Society of Fisheries Science
Prof. Kinoshita received the Japan Society for Marine Biotechnology Award
ResearchResearch themes
The lab studies aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and plankton, investigating how genes and the proteins translated from them are involved in life phenomena such as development, growth, adaptation, reproduction, and aging. While protecting the genetic traits of aquatic organisms as a heritage of the Earth, the lab aims for their harmonious use.
*Illustrative imageGenome analysis of aquatic organisms
This research decodes the genomes of a variety of aquatic organisms and builds high-accuracy genome maps. The lab is also developing new analytical techniques for this purpose.
*Illustrative imageFunctions of small RNAs in fish
Using a next-generation sequencer, the lab comprehensively examines the small RNAs of medaka and pufferfish, and analyzes the roles small RNAs play in processes such as muscle development and growth in fish.
*Illustrative imageGenes characteristic of dolphins
By comparing genes characteristic of dolphins, the lab examines the structure of genes involved in taste and hair. In dolphins that have pelvic fins, it is also searching for the genes responsible for the formation of those fins.
*Illustrative imageDifferences in lifespan explored through aquatic organisms
Using model fish such as medaka, the short-lived ayu, the long-lived Greenland shark, and jellyfish that undergo reverse development, the lab explores the genetic mechanisms that produce differences in aging and lifespan.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Aquatic Biotechnology Lab consist of faculty, researchers, technical assistants and academic specialist staff, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and students who serve as joint researchers.As of 2026
- ProfessorShuichi AsakawaPublications ↗
- ProfessorShigeharu KinoshitaPublications ↗
- Project Assistant ProfessorNahoko Kobayashi
- Project Assistant ProfessorRyo Yonezawa
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Takifugu rubripes AQUAS” Totti / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Genome analysis of aquatic organisms: “DNA Double Helix by NHGRI” National Human Genome Research Institute / Public domain (cropped)
- Functions of small RNAs in fish: “Oryzias latipes(Hamamatsu,Shizuoka,Japan,2007)-1” Seotaro / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Genes characteristic of dolphins: “Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) NOAA” NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center (NOAA) / Public domain (cropped)
- Differences in lifespan explored through aquatic organisms: “Somniosus microcephalus okeanos” NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Aquaculture and Stock Enhancement Lab): “Lake Hamana (Aerial)” SUGI MAKOTO / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Aquatic Biology and Environment Lab): “Marine plankton - Dinoflagellat (Neoceratium horridum), diatom (Coscinodiscus radiatus) - 160x ( )” Picturepest / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Inoue Lab): “Colonie de modioles (Bathymodiolus azoricus) sur une cheminée hydrothermale (Ifremer )” Ifremer / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Aquatic Physiology Lab): “Nihon Medaka in Medaka World of Higashiyama Zoo - 2” KKPCW / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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