In a major step forward for biodiversity conservation and scientific research, Australia has launched “Genome Tracker,” an online dashboard meant to track the progress of sequencing the complete genetic blueprints of the country’s many species. This world-first initiative was announced today. It emphasises the need to embark upon faster genomic efforts, as only two per cent of Australia’s over 250,000 known and catalogued species have been fully sequenced so far.
Genome Tracker is a key part of the Australian Reference Genome Atlas (ARGA), a platform developed through the teamwork of the Atlas of Living Australia, Bioplatforms Australia, Australian BioCommons, and the Australian Research Data Commons. This joint effort shows a national commitment to using genomic data for better ecological understanding and protection.
Dr Kathryn Hall, the ARGA project lead at CSIRO, the national science agency, pointed out the transformative potential of Genome Tracker. She said the tool represents a significant shift in how researchers track, assess, and prioritize genomic data coverage. Dr Hall highlighted the important implications of whole genome sequencing for plants and animals. She noted it provides useful information for fields such as ecology, conservation biology, agriculture, and biosecurity.
The Genome Tracker dashboard shows which parts of the tree of life are well-covered by existing genomic data and which are under-sequenced or completely unmapped. Researchers will use this information to identify the current genomic coverage and areas requiring further research.
The main goal of this ambitious project is to obtain published genomes for a diverse range of Australia’s rich biodiversity. Dr Hall discussed the value of genomes, saying they serve as “roadmaps” for understanding the evolutionary history of life. They help scientists see how species evolved and adapted their traits to their environments. She added that the higher branches of the taxonomic tree, which represent older genomic divergences, currently have a genomic coverage of only 32 per cent. She stressed that improving this coverage would greatly enhance our understanding of species diversification and evolution over long periods.
Dr Hall expressed excitement about these developments, calling this period “exciting times for biology.” She suggested that by studying the causes of past changes in organisms, researchers could predict how species might adapt to future environmental changes. Also, she noted that genomes provide essential “roadmaps” for tracing the historical progression of life, offering critical knowledge for protecting biodiversity for future generations. She concluded that this data will be a key resource for identifying vulnerable populations for monitoring, conservation, and protection as ecosystems continue to change.
The way ARGA is set up, with details about species and their habitats, helps researchers easily find and sort genomic data. This capability ensures that every species in Australia can be tracked, supporting focused and targeted research. Both Genome Tracker and ARGA utilize the strong existing research infrastructure of the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA), Australia’s national biodiversity data system, which is hosted by CSIRO. This integrated approach guarantees easy access and use of this innovative tool for the scientific community.
