The era of reference genomes in conservation genomics

Image from ERGA webpage.

In the last decades, technological advances in Genetic has led to tremendous progress in genome sequencing which now enables the large-scale generation of reference genomes. Consequently, various international initiatives are now aiming at generating reference genomes in almost all ecosystem on earth with an overwhelming objective to better understand and conserve global biodiversity. These genomes will and are already providing unique insights into genomic diversity and architecture, thereby enabling comprehensive analyses of population and functional genomics, and are expected to revolutionize conservation genomics.

One such initiative is the European Refence Genome Atlas which aims at gathering scientists across Europe to facilitate the generation of whole-genome sequences of thousands of organisms and use the collected data for a better management and conservation of species. The publication is co-authored by MFRI Research Director Christophe Pampoulie. It aims at presenting ERGA and other related initiative and at explaining the importance of using whole-genome sequence data for the conservation of species across the Tree of Life.

The era of reference genomes in conservation genomics

ERGA is a free to join initiative and every scientist concerned about conservation of biodiversity can freely join by signing on the consortium webpage.

https://vertebrategenomesproject.org/erga