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The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $18.4 million to a group of scientists producing an extensive genetic database of Antarctic lifeforms. More than 250 Antarctic species’ genomes will be sequenced, including algae, mosses, invertebrates, birds, fish, and marine mammals. Scientists will also gather and sequence around 600 ecosystem samples representing tens of thousands of microbial and viral genomic datasets.
UC Berkeley integrative biology professor Rauri Bowie will serve as a co-principal investigator of the initiative, building on his penguin research and his role as curator in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. He will lead the selection of bird, fish, and invertebrate species to be sampled. Bowie will also work on database design and the development and implementation of new AI and machine-learning tools.
“We expect to open the door to a wealth of new discoveries and provide fundamental insights into the genetic basis of life in one of Earth’s most extreme environments,” said Bowie.
“This NSF-funded project will transform our understanding of Antarctic life by combining cutting-edge sequencing, genome assembly, and annotation of hundreds of genomes with AI-guided computing and interoperable databases to create an unprecedented resource for Antarctic biodiversity research,” continued Bowie. “By bringing newly generated genomic data together with existing data in a single Antarctic data portal, we will uncover hidden biodiversity, identify the genetic and biochemical innovations that allow organisms to survive in extreme cold environments, and reveal how populations remain resilient and evolve across Antarctica’s diverse habitats.”
Despite its global significance, Antarctica remains one of the least explored biological frontiers on Earth. Fewer than 2 percent of known Antarctic terrestrial species have had their genomes sequenced. The gap is even more extreme for Antarctic marine species, where genomic data exist for less than 1% of recognized species, leaving the vast majority of Antarctic biodiversity genetically unexplored.
