Lamprey is a modern representative of the ancient jawless vertebrates.Studies on its natural resource protection and evolution have received increasing attention in recent years.In this paper,the progress of genetic diversity and systematic evolution of lamprey have been reviewed at of level chromosome,protein and DNA.The emphasis of the paper concentrates of RFLP,RAPD,AFLP,SSR,mtDNA and functional genes in the study of genetic diversity,genetic differentiation,genetic structure,germplasm identification,fisheries resources and systematic evolution in lamprey.