Photo: Violet Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa violacea (Linnaeus, 1785) – by Adriana Vella
The full genome sequence of the Violet Carpenter Bee has been revealed for the first time through the efforts of various collaborating research institutions led by the University of Malta’s Conservation Biology Research Group and the Earlham Institute in UK. The work has also produced the paper entitled: The genome sequence of the Violet Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa violacea (Linnaeus, 1785): a hymenopteran species undergoing range expansion accepted in the journal Heredity.
This intensive and dedicated research work was possible through the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) networking that encouraged various institutions to join forces toward biodiversity genomics in the face of the urgent conservation needs more and more species face throughout Europe and beyond. The whole genomes of many species still need to be discovered paving the way to the diverse applications and further research also needed for effective conservation management.
Figure 2: Strength in biodiversity: Some of the European species selected for the ERGA Pilot Project
The European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) Pilot Project reports its success in uniting researchers from across Europe to produce high-quality reference genomes for 98 species. This continental effort is setting the stage for a new, inclusive and equitable model for biodiversity genomics.
The European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) announces the success of its Pilot Project through a new publication “The European Reference Genome Atlas: piloting a decentralised approach to equitable biodiversity genomics” in Nature - npj Biodiversity journal.
This pioneering initiative assembled a large collaborative network of researchers and institutions across 33 countries (figure 3) to produce high-quality reference genomes of 98 European species. This marks a significant milestone in the quest to create a high-quality reference genome database for all European animals, plants, and fungi. The Pilot Project has provided valuable lessons and highlighted key challenges, positioning ERGA as a model for decentralised, inclusive, and equitable biodiversity genomics initiatives around the world, as reported in a new collection of research articles published on the 16 of September 2024 in npj Biodiversity.
Figure 3: Map highlighting the collaborative network of researchers and institutions across 33 countries to produce high-quality reference genomes of 98 European species. Malta being one of these through the University of Malta’s conservation biology research group.
The ERGA Pilot emphasised equity and inclusion, with the goal that genomic research and resources are accessible to all, regardless of geographical boundaries. For many of the participating researchers and countries, the project offered the first opportunity to actively engage in the generation of state-of-the art reference genomic resources for their native biodiversity.
The ERGA Pilot was also successful in building momentum and bringing visibility to the growing importance of biodiversity genomics in Europe and beyond. Genomic data hold immense potential to inform conservation actions for endangered species and unlock discoveries in the fields of human health, bioeconomy, biosecurity and many other applications
The ERGA Pilot project helped to identify and address the many challenges of working at the international scale. These challenges include dealing with the legal and logistical hurdles of shipping biological samples across borders, resource disparities between countries, and the search for balance between decentralisation and the need for standardisation to guarantee that only the highest possible quality reference genome assemblies, that met EBP metrics, were produced by the project.
Future Directions:
ERGA’s decentralised approach holds great promise for the future of biodiversity genomics. The Pilot Project's success in building momentum and uniting researchers illustrates the power of this model. By fostering international collaboration and focusing on inclusivity and equity, ERGA is setting new standards for biodiversity genomics. The lessons learned and challenges addressed in the Pilot Project will guide future efforts, promoting robust and standardised workflows and a comprehensive genomic database for species in Europe and beyond.
Check out the video regarding ERGA.
ERGA Website
Malta Representative for ERGA: Prof. Adriana Vella and Dr Noel Vella - The Conservation Biology Research Group, University of Malta (CBRG-UM).
Anyone wishing to learn more or join the Malta biodiversity genomics community contact Prof. Adriana Vella.
