Genome Tracker provides researchers with a new way to track the sequencing progress of Australia’s rich genomic biodiversity. That’s why this groundbreaking launch is going to transform their work! This pioneering instrument provides the first comprehensive, near-countrywide picture of the more than 250,000 known and catalogued species that call the country home. Yet a mere 2% of these species have had their genomes sequenced even just once. The Eugene’s Tracker Our lineage Genome Tracker — a family tree of all species and their constituents. It underpins the Australian Reference Genome Atlas (ARGA), an innovative collaborative effort that draws on the collective strength of research infrastructure capability.
Genome Tracker gives the research community the ability to investigate evolutionary history like never before. It was built and designed in collaboration via deep partnerships not only with ALA but with Bioplatforms Australia, Australian BioCommons, and the ARDC. As researchers analyze the genomic data, they can better understand how various species have adapted to Australia’s unique and diverse landscapes.
Dr. Kathryn Hall, a key player in this project, underscored the value of genomics to research adaptive traits.
“Genomes help us understand the adaptive traits of species—how they’ve uniquely adapted to their environment and how they’re evolving,” – Dr. Hall
The ultimate goal of Genome Tracker and ARGA is to have genomes published for a wide cross-section of Australian biodiversity. Today, even the oldest branches of the evolutionary tree are represented by just 32% genomic coverage, highlighting the hefty task still ahead.
In this age of genomic research, Dr. Hall expanded on what those implications mean, explaining that the research offers critical roadmaps to any conservation intervention.
“These are exciting times for biology. Genomes give us roadmaps to trace how life came to be as it is today—and how we can work with that knowledge to protect it for generations to come,” – Dr. Hall
By examining genomes, researchers can gain insights into what drives changes within organisms, potentially aiding predictions about future adaptations as ecosystems evolve. The information gleaned through Genome Tracker will help bring into focus the populations we most need to keep an eye on and protect, informing efficient and smart conservation efforts.
“We can look at what drove changes in organisms, and this could help predict how species might adapt in the future. As ecosystems change, this data spotlights populations for monitoring, conservation and protection,” – Dr. Hall
Not only is whole-genome sequencing vital for understanding ecology and informing conservation, it has direct implications for agriculture and biosecurity. This gives scientists the capacity to peer backwards through evolutionary time. Only then can they appreciate how species have uniquely adapted to Australia’s harsh, diverse and complex landscapes.
The Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) is a quintessential example of a species that curious researchers can study with this exciting new tool. Genome Tracker is just beginning to show its power to further our scientific understanding of Australia’s unique flora and fauna.