Homarus americanus isolate:Steve Connolly Seafood Inc. Genome sequencing. Homarus americanus isolate:Steve Connolly Seafood Inc.

The American lobster, Homarus americanus, is an iconic species that is integral to marine ecosystems and supports an important commercial fishery in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. The lobster also serves as a valuable model organism for the study of neural networks that control rhythmic motor patterns and olfaction. Here we report the first draft assembly of the lobster genome and present evidence consistent with a tetraploid organism. The lobster genome will serve as a valuable resource for fisheries and basic research, especially in deciphering complex traits including nervous system function, longevity, susceptibility to disease and adaptation to environmental change