How genomics can help biodiversity conservation

How genomics can help biodiversity conservation

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K. Theissinger, C. Fernandes, G. Formenti, I. Bista, P. R. Berg, C. Bleidorn, A. Bombarely, A. Crottini, G. R. Gallo, J. A. Godoy, S. Jentoft, J. Malukiewicz, A. Mouton, R. A. Oomen, S. Paez, P. J. Palsbøll, C. Pampoulie, M. J. Ruiz-López, S. Secomandi, H,  Trends in Genetics,  2023.

Genomics provides effective tools to characterize biodiversity, but the full implementation of genomic techniques in practical conservation is still limited. We review some of the main approaches in biodiversity genomics available to conservationists and genomicists.High-quality, long-read sequencing and bioinformatic technologies facilitate genome sequencing and assembly for any species. We summarize how reference genomes, in conjunction with population genomic data, can contribute to biodiversity monitoring, conservation, and restoration efforts.Over the past decade, many initiatives to generate reference genomes spanning the tree of life have emerged worldwide. We call for increased integration of reference genomes and population genomics data into interdisciplinary conservation efforts to fully unlock the potential of genomics in safeguarding global biodiversity.