Source: Ars Technica
A new conservation initiative will sequence the genomes of every species protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act while preserving tissue samples in a long-term biobank to support future recovery efforts. The project is a collaboration between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Colossal Biosciences, combining government field expertise with advanced genomic technologies.
Tissue samples and reproductive cells from more than 2,300 endangered plant and animal species will be collected and stored in Colossal’s BioVault, creating resources for genetic research, assisted reproduction, population management, and potentially restoring species lost to extinction. The resulting genomic data will largely be placed in open access repositories to support conservation research worldwide, although some information may be restricted to protect sensitive species or respect tribal authority over collected samples. Organizers believe the initiative will provide scientists with valuable genetic resources that can improve conservation planning and accelerate recovery efforts for endangered species across the United States.