A unique project “One Thousand Arctic Genomes” has been launched in Russia. It aims to study the genomes of living organisms inhabiting the Arctic.
This ambitious project, initiated in the fall of 2024, is part of Rosneft's long-term Arctic biodiversity research program.
The main stage of the project will begin in 2025 and it last for three years. Its main goal is to create a genetic data bank that will include information on nearly a thousand different species of living organisms in the Arctic, including birds, fish, mammals, invertebrates and even microorganisms.
The project will allow to obtain genome-wide sequences of at least 100 species of Arctic animals. The collected genomic data will help to investigate the evolutionary processes, the peculiarities of adaptation of organisms to the harsh conditions of the Arctic and to assess the degree of anthropogenic impact on the ecosystems of the region.
The first stage of the project involves compiling a list of species that will be subjected to genome-wide sequencing. Among the priority species is the polar bear, a symbol of the Arctic.
The “One Thousand Arctic Genomes” project differs from other international initiatives, such as “Vertebrate Genomes” or the Chinese “Bird 10,000 Genomes”, in that it focuses on Arctic biodiversity and is implemented by a unified team of Russian scientists, according to vedomosti.ru.
Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished
