“…NEMs have been proven crucial regulators in hybrids' heterosis formation (Barber et al, 2012;Fang et al, 2013). Although research data of abalone miRNAs is quite limited, we could still classify the 71 NEMs into three functional categories according to the miRNA studies of other species: (1) Development, metabolism, and energy homeostasis: miR-196, miR-263, miR-9, miR-278, let-7i, and miR-33 (Reinhart et al, 2000;Hornstein et al, 2005;Aurelio and Stephen, 2006;Rayner et al, 2010;Nian et al, 2019;Zhou et al, 2020); (2) Immune response: miR-150, miR-1, miR-133, miR-4326, miR-152, miR-200, and miR-891 (Xiao et al, 2007;Xu et al, 2007Xu et al, , 2017Yang et al, 2007;Park et al, 2008;Tsuruta et al, 2011;Liao et al, 2019); and (3) Stress response and oxidation resistance: miR-2898, miR-885, and miR-466 (Aliaksandr et al, 2012;Alural et al, 2014;Deb and Sengar, 2020). The NEMs' functions also pattern with DY's vigorous phenotypes, highlighting the role of miRNA regulation in the abalone heterosis formation.…”