A genomic database of all species inhabiting Europe

Thanks to an international collaboration involving researchers from 33 countries, it has been possible to define high-quality reference genomes of 98 European species. This result marks the success of the pilot project launched by ERGA, the European Reference Genome Atlas, in which the University of Bologna contributed through the work of Alessia Cariani and Giobbe Forni, who are respectively a professor and a research fellow at the Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences.

ERGA is the European hub of the ambitious Earth BioGenome Project (EBP), which aims at sequencing the genome of all eucaryotic living species on Earth. The pilot project’s outcomes – presented in the journal npj Biodiversity – show it is possible to give life to an inclusive and equitable model in biodiversity genomics, proving that international collaboration allows to hasten scientific progress.

According to researchers, the shared work on this pilot project provided fundamental teachings and highlighted the main challenges to overcome to ensure genomics research is accessible to anyone, regardless of geographical boundaries. As a matter of fact, the approach used reinforces equity and inclusion in the scientific research environment and it emphasises the importance of genomics for the preservation of threatened species and for the development of new discoveries in fields such as human health, bioeconomy and biosecurity.

Thanks to the contribution of the University of Bologna, it was possible to obtain the genomes of important species for biodiversity and bioeconomy, such as the bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), one of the most prized fish in the world, or the Argentina silus, a North Atlantic fish with a high commercial value. Having access to the genomes of these species will allow to accurately monitor their condition and consequently define fishing activities so that they are sustainable and responsible.

Furthermore, among the relevant outcomes it is worth mentioning the first reference genomes of species originating from Greece, one of the European countries with the highest biodiversity. Local researchers obtained the genomes of species such as the Cretan Wall Lizard (Podarcis cretensis) or the Aristotle’s catfish (Silurus aristotelis), which are now freely accessible for study and research purposes.

To reach these goals, the pilot project ERGA had to face logistical, legal and financial challenges, such as the shipping of biological samples between different countries and the standardisation of procedures to ensure the quality of produced genomes. These challenges were all overcome successfully thanks to a collaborative model consisting of a solid and well-coordinated scientific network, which enabled process standardisation and resources sharing among countries with different level of scientific development.

The researchers involved highlighted how this adventure proved that through international cooperation and an inclusive approach it is possible to produce high-quality genomic data, improving natural resources management and promoting biodiversity preservation. This pioneering project marks a significant step forward in biodiversity genomics and could be a reference for similar initiatives all around the world.