Sea turtles exhibit remarkable longevity, fecundity, physiological versatility, and migratory capabilities, yet the genomic basis for their unique adaptive evolutionary biology is just starting to be investigated with modern high-throughput DNA diagnostics. In this issue, Chow et al. (p. 2797) present results of a reference-based genome wide survey of global and locus-specific polymorphism, selection, and adaptive potential in populations of Atlantic loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) that inform the genotype-phenotype evolutionary dynamics of this species and provide a large body of new genetic biomarkers to advance more predictive vs. reactive approaches to sea turtle conservation efforts worldwide. Cover image: Injured/rehabilitated adult loggerhead turtle returning to sea, South Carolina, USA. Photo Credit: Ms. Barbara Bergwerf.