Fish coloration, evolved from selection and adaptation, is a prominent feature of remarkable aquaculture merits. Fish possess more pigment cell types than any other vertebrates and are an excellent model for the study of mechanisms underlying skin coloration and pigmentation at levels from molecular genetics to system biology. How to effectively improve skin colour in ornamental and aquaculture fish has long been a focus on selective breeding programmes. In this review article, we introduce different types of chromatophore and early development of pigmentation, describe cellular mechanisms related to morphological and physiological changes of body colour and demonstrate applications of single-sex control and molecular marker–assisted breeding in body colour selection. We also reviewed genes that have been found involving in neural crest migration and development, as well as those involved in melanin-based coloration and other types of pigmentation, and explored how to use transgenic technology for enhancing fish body colour. The applications of genome editing and other omics technologies in relation to fish coloration are also illustrated. Finally, we present our perspectives about future fish coloration research and practice in aquaculture. Taken together, this review is expected to provide an update on cellular and molecular mechanisms in fish coloration and pigmentation, which will likely promote body colour–based molecular breeding programmes in aquaculture.

中文翻译：

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鱼类色素沉着和着色：分子机制和水产养殖前景

由选择和适应演变而来的鱼类颜色是水产养殖显着优点的一个突出特征。鱼类拥有比任何其他脊椎动物更多的色素细胞类型，是从分子遗传学到系统生物学研究皮肤着色和色素沉着机制的绝佳模型。如何有效改善观赏鱼和水产养殖鱼的肤色一直是选育计划的重点。在这篇综述文章中，我们介绍了不同类型的色素细胞和色素沉着的早期发展，描述了与体色形态和生理变化相关的细胞机制，并展示了单性别控制和分子标记辅助育种在体色选择中的应用。我们还回顾了已发现的涉及神经嵴迁移和发育的基因，以及涉及基于黑色素的着色和其他类型色素沉着的基因，并探索了如何使用转基因技术来增强鱼体颜色。还说明了基因组编辑和其他组学技术在鱼类着色方面的应用。最后，我们提出了我们对未来水产养殖鱼类着色研究和实践的看法。总之，本综述有望提供有关鱼类着色和色素沉着的细胞和分子机制的最新信息，这可能会促进水产养殖中基于体色的分子育种计划。并探索如何利用转基因技术提高鱼体颜色。还说明了基因组编辑和其他组学技术在鱼类着色方面的应用。最后，我们提出了我们对未来水产养殖鱼类着色研究和实践的看法。总之，本综述有望提供有关鱼类着色和色素沉着的细胞和分子机制的最新信息，这可能会促进水产养殖中基于体色的分子育种计划。并探索如何利用转基因技术提高鱼体颜色。还说明了基因组编辑和其他组学技术在鱼类着色方面的应用。最后，我们提出了我们对未来水产养殖鱼类着色研究和实践的看法。总之，本综述有望提供有关鱼类着色和色素沉着的细胞和分子机制的最新信息，这可能会促进水产养殖中基于体色的分子育种计划。