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5 Nov 2009 11:05:57
University scientist Professor David Rawson is part of an international consortium planning to assemble a genomic zoo - a collection of DNA sequences for 10,000 vertebrate species.
Professor Rawson, of the University of Bedfordshire’s LIRANS Research Institute, is one of only three UK scientists contributing to what is the most comprehensive study of animal evolution ever attempted.
Known as the Genome 10K Project, it involves gathering specimens of thousands of animals from zoos, museums and university collections throughout the world then sequencing the genome of each species to reveal its complete genetic heritage.
The project now involves more than 68 scientists who call themselves the Genome 10K Community of Scientists (G10KCOS).
The group outlined its proposal to create a collection of tissue and DNA specimens for the project in a paper published online today in the Journal of Heredity.
Professor Rawson said: “I was invited to take part in the project because the LIRANS Institute is establishing a cryobank of cells and tissues from a wide range of fish species, and we have considerable experience in cryopreservation of such material.
“This month I am on a survey vessel in the Irish Sea collecting fish fin and muscle tissues and cryobanking them for return to the cryobank in Luton. Cells and tissue will be stored in liquid nitrogen and kept in the best possible conditions and this material will be available for the Genome 10K programme along with other material from our cryobank collection.”
The scientists have identified specimens that span a broad range of evolutionary diversity including living mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, many of which are threatened or endangered, as well as some recently extinct species. The project will create an online database of samples from more than 16,000 different species of vertebrate animals and compiled from more than 500 institutions.
One of those is the LIRANS Institute (Luton Institute of Research in the Applied Natural Sciences) based at the University which specialises in cryopreservation and cryoconservation. Professor Rawson established the Institute but has now retired as its Director to concentrate on a series of cryobiological research programmes. He has been a member of staff at the University for more than 40 years.
Professor Rawson said: “The threat of major extinctions is real, and it is important that we have as much information as possible of the species diversity on the planet. With this project underway we can look at what we know about the different species and gain information that may help ensure their future survival.”
The project was launched earlier this year at the University of California, Santa Cruz and was conceived by the paper's (Journal of Heredity) three lead authors - David Haussler, Professor of biomolecular engineering at UC Santa Cruz, Stephen O'Brien, chief of the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at the National Cancer Institute and Oliver Ryder, Director of Genetics at the San Diego Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research and adjunct Professor of biology at UC San Diego.
Latest news» 2009» November» Uni scientist in worldwide study to create genome zoo
