A collection of PNAS papers has been published to describe the why and how to sequence the whole genomes of the approximately 2 million species of eukaryotes on the planet at a high, chromosome level quality. This task will be accomplished by the Earth BioGenome Project (EBP) and its coordinated “network of networks” led by Harris Lewin of the University of California, Davis, and a dedicated community of genome scientists. The EBP is likened to 1960’s Apollo moon landing campaign, in terms of scope, required coordination, technological expertise and monetary investments. However, the EBP diverges from the moonshot, in that multiple countries and organizations must be involved for ultimate success, instead of a solo American endeavor. NSU’s contributions are through its affiliation with Global Invertebrate Genome Alliance (GIGA) spearheaded by our laboratory and various partners at Wellcome Sanger and Gordon and Betty Moore foundation. These papers encompass and describe the detailed plans, rationale, high standards, workflows and expected benefits and windfalls from undertaking this ambitious project. If successful, the EBP will represent a remarkable gift to the world.
Lopez Lab @ NSU 