What kind of information can we gain from sequencing an organism’s genome? / Why is it useful to sequence whole genomes?
The enormous amount of information contained in a single genome leads to resources that can be applied in many ways. Among the hundreds of species sequenced by BGE there are:
Species of economic interest, such as commercially important fish species. Genomic information about their populations can help us make informed decisions on how to best manage these resources to avoid future depletion.
Species of importance for ecosystem function and stability, such as pollinators that have a key importance for agriculture and food production.
Endangered species. Their genomes can help us understand current patterns of biodiversity decline and allow us to more efficiently address specific threats.
Genomes also provide the most complete resources to understand how different species are related and how they evolve. By investigating the genomes of highly diverse species across the tree of life, we can better understand the processes that underlie the wonderful variety of living forms we see on our planet.