Canada BioGenome Project

Canada BioGenome Project

Earth BioGenome Project Canada logo
Earth BioGenome Project Canada

A genome contains the genetic blueprint of life. Each species possesses its own characteristic genome, shaped by millions of years of evolution allowing each organism to be specifically adapted to its environment. Through the study of these genomes, we can explore the diversity of life, how species interact, and how they create ecosystems. The Canada BioGenome Project represents Canadian participation in the Earth BioGenome Project, an international initiative with the goal of sequencing the genetic material for all complex life on Earth. The project also represents the next phase of the CanSeq150 Program.

Canada possesses significant biodiversity having approximately 80,000 plant and animal species, in environments ranging from desert to the arctic. Many of these species are under threat due to rapid changes in climate and other human-led impacts on our environment. In collaboration with scientists, Indigenous peoples and conservation groups, this project will help determine the genetic diversity of Canada’s plants and animals through genomic sequencing.

Visit the Canada BioGenome Project website to learn more.