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A project to sequence the genomes of all complex/eukaryotic species on Earth is moving forward:
The central goal of the Earth BioGenome Project is to understand the evolution and organization of life on our planet by sequencing and functionally annotating the genomes of 1.5 million known species of eukaryotes, a massive group that includes plants, animals, fungi and other organisms whose cells have a nucleus that houses their chromosomal DNA. To date, the genomes of less than 0.2 percent of eukaryotic species have been sequenced.
The project also seeks to reveal some of the estimated 10 million to 15 million unknown species of eukaryotes, most of which are single cell organisms, insects and small animals in the oceans. The genomic data will be a freely available resource for scientific discovery and the resulting benefits shared with countries and indigenous communities where biodiversity is sourced. Researchers estimate the proposed initiative will take 10 years and cost approximately $4.7 billion.
In a perspective paper [DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1720115115] [DX] published today (April 23) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 24 interdisciplinary experts comprising the Earth BioGenome Project Working Group, provide a compelling rationale for why the project should go forward and outline a roadmap for how it can be achieved.
The Smithsonian Institution is on board:
Assembling the species will be a massive undertaking, which is why partnerships with institutions that procure and preserve the Earth's biodiversity, such as natural history museums, botanical gardens, zoos and aquaria, will be crucial for success. The Smithsonian herbarium, for example, contains around 300,000 species.
"Many scientists at the Smithsonian Institution with its 19 museums and nine research institutes are applying genomics technologies in their research to increase our understanding of the natural world. The strength of biodiversity genomics at the Smithsonian is a good indicator of the vital role the institution will play in furthering the goals of the Earth BioGenome Project," Kress said.
Also at the Smithsonian Institution and GEN.
Previously: Earth BioGenome Project Aims to Sequence the Genomes of All Species on Earth
Scientists Plan to Sequence 10,000 Plant and Eukaryotic Microbe Genomes
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Thursday April 26 2018, @06:44PM (1 child)
Tackyon said "complex/eukaryotic species". That doesn't include bacteria. It would get your tapeworms, though, and possibly a few others. Some amoeba, perhaps.
I didn't read the original proposal, but it makes sense to limit it to "complex/eukaryotic species", because that's an order of magnitude (or so) reduction in the number of species that they propose to handle. I still don't think they can get everything. We're still finding new species every year or so...often only once. Just this year there was a photo of a new kind of deep sea squid. How're you going to sequence that?
It a worthwhile project, but the stated goals are overly ambitious. They probably have to be for political reasons, but don't believe they can be accomplished. And that's without worrying about bacteria, etc. (Sorry, I still think of prokaryotes, and that's no longer the accepted division. I don't remember the current one.)
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 26 2018, @09:26PM
1) Go back to deep see spot.
2) Find deep sea squid.
3) Catch the squid.
4) Get back to the lab.
5) Extract DNA from the squid.
6) Sequence squid DNA
7) Collect sequence data from now extinct deep sea squid.