Australia has launched the world’s first DNA Library as a reference for tracking species.
The initiative enhances researchers’ ability to monitor biodiversity and ecosystem health.
The project reflects Australia’s long-standing emphasis on conserving its uniquely diverse biodiversity.
When you hear of a library, all you can think of is a building full of books, but now there’s more. The Australian government has launched the world’s first DNA library and it is more interesting than what any of us can imagine.
Known as the National Biodiversity DNA Library (NBDL), the library was launched by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). An Australian agency in charge of research and application in commerce and industry.
The Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) library will provide scientists with extensive and trusted DNA reference sequences. Which enables them to match and identify animal and plant species from DNA shed into the environment (eDNA) to help track the country’s biodiversity.
A picture of an insect specimen from Australian National Insect Collection. Source: CSIRO
Australia Preserves Biodiversity via DNA
DNA is the aspect of living things that determines everything about them, including size, shape, color, and other attributes. Therefore, storing the DNA materials in a “library” is the most effective way to track and preserve the diversity of species in Australia.
CSIRO Director of the NBDL, Dr Jenny Giles, said the library would help researchers, governments and industry to describe and track Australia’s biodiversity and ecosystem health, and detect changes and threats.
“While we can now generate huge numbers of DNA reads from water, soil and air samples, the lack of an extensive and reliable library like the NBDL to accurately identify them to species has really held back these powerful new techniques.”
Dr Giles said the first data release alone will significantly increase CSIRO’s ability to monitor fish species just by reading eDNA in seawater samples. This will provide reference sequences for almost 2,500 marine fish species. Which represent about 50% of Australia’s indigenous fish species from specimens held in different research collections.
A Scientist working in a molecular lab contributing to the National Biodiversity DNA Library. Source: CSIRO
Australia Prioritizes Biodiversity Conservation
Of all the nations of the world, Australia stands out as one that has its biodiversity and its conservation as a priority. This is seen in its preservation of unique or rare species hardly found in any other part of the world.
For example, the Corpse Flower is one plant that is found in only a few locations in the entire world. And Australia has it conserved at the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney. The plant only blooms once in 15 years, and more than 20,000 Australians rushed to witnessthe rare event early this year.
