What is the Earth BioGenome Project?

Powerful advances in genome sequencing technology, informatics, automation, and artificial intelligence, have propelled humankind to the threshold of a new beginning in understanding, utilizing, and conserving biodiversity. For the first time in history, it is possible to efficiently sequence the genomes of all known species, and to use genomics to help discover the remaining 80 to 90 percent of species that are currently hidden from science.

The Earth BioGenome Project Phase II: Illuminating the eukaryotic Tree of Life

Authors: Mark Blaxter, Harris Lewin, Federica Di Palma, Richard Challis, Manuela da Silva, Richard Durbin, Giulio Formenti, Nico Franz, Roderic Guigó, Peter W. Harrison, Michael Hiller, Katharina J. Hoff, Kerstin Howe, Erich Jarvis, Mara Lawniczak, Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, Debra Mathews, Fergal J. Martin, Camila Mazzoni, Ann McCartney, Nicola Mulder, Sadye Páez, PhD, MSPT, MPH, Kim D. Pruitt, Verena Ras, Oliver Ryder, Lesley Shirley, Françoise Thibaud-Nissen, Tandy Warnow, Robert Waterhouse, and the EBP Community of Scientists

Journal: Frontiers in Science

Date: Sept 4, 2025

A GRAND CHALLENGE

The Earth BioGenome Project (EBP), a moonshot for biology, aims to sequence, catalog and characterize the genomes of all of Earth’s eukaryotic biodiversity over a period of ten years. 

A GRAND VISION

Create a new foundation for biology to drive
solutions for preserving biodiversity and sustaining human societies.

Featured Species

The Nguni Sheep (Ovis aries)

High-quality Chromosomal-level Genome

Sequenced by the African BioGenome Project.

Image credit: Lucky Nesengani.

Read the 2025 publication

Featured Publication

African BioGenome Project

“To fully harness the transformative potential of biodiversity genomics, African countries and institutions should adopt a strategic and integrative economic approach. Establishing regional sequencing hubs and state-of-the-art laboratories is critical to reducing dependency on external facilities, fostering local innovations, and providing jobs for early careers and established scientists.”

Title: Unlocking the African bioeconomy and strengthening biodiversity conservation through genomics and bioinformatics

Authors: Hayah, I., Ezebuiro, V., Kagame, S.P., Kuja, J.O., Waruhiu, C., Nesengani, L.T., Mdyogolo, S., Molotsi, A.H., Abechi, P., Abushady, A.M., Amor, N., et al.

Journal: npj Biodiversity (2025)

EBP Life Newsletter:

We’re excited to share our seasonal newsletter highlighting the successes of the Earth BioGenome Project (EBP).
The EBP now includes more than 60 global affiliated projects, all united by the mission to generate annotated, reference-quality genomes for ~1.8 million named eukaryotic species.

Issue 4 is coming soon!
In this edition, dive beneath the waves with us as we spotlight real-world stories from EBP-affiliated projects that are harnessing the power of genomics to explore underwater biodiversity. Discover how several affiliated groups are generating reference-quality genomes to unlock the secrets of life beneath the surface.

2025 Understanding Life:

Using Large-scale Biodiversity Reference Genomes

🗓️ Conference dates: 27-29 October 2025

📍 Hinxton Hall Conference Centre, Wellcome Genome Campus, UK, and online

✅ Find out more about the conference, speakers, and abstract opportunities here