A real limitation to the Daphnia system has been the lack of genomic tools. However, through coordinated efforts, rapid progress is being made and Daphnia pulex will soon be one of the best genomically characterized organisms whose ecological attributes are deeply understood. 1) Nearly 2,000 microsatellite markers, ~30% physically linked to known protein-coding loci, are being assembled into a fine-scale genetic map. 2) An arrayed library of 40,000 cosmids (~5 fold genomic coverage) allows the rapid localization and characterization of candidate genes. 3) 50,000 cDNAs (expressed in a diversity of developmental stages and environments) are presently being sequenced for printing onto microarrays and for gene expression studies. 4) BAC library construction for D. pulex and D. magna is underway to assemble physical maps of their genomes. 5) Methods for studying gene function, including genetic transformation and cell culture are also under development. 6) The next goal of the DGC is to sequence the entire D. pulex genome. Because Daphnia is the primary sentinel organism in aquatic ecotoxicology, these tools have a significant applied impact. These tools are applicable to members of the D. pulex species complex, which reside in lakes and ponds throughout the entire northern hemisphere. Similar sets will evolve for use in D. magna.

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