Journal of Heredity Advance Access originally published online on November 5, 2009
Journal of Heredity 2009 100(6):659-674; doi:10.1093/jhered/esp086
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Original Articles |
Genome 10K: A Proposal to Obtain Whole-Genome Sequence for 10 000 Vertebrate Species
The human genome project has been recently complemented by whole-genome assessment sequence of 32 mammals and 24 nonmammalian vertebrate species suitable for comparative genomic analyses. Here we anticipate a precipitous drop in costs and increase in sequencing efficiency, with concomitant development of improved annotation technology and, therefore, propose to create a collection of tissue and DNA specimens for 10 000 vertebrate species specifically designated for whole-genome sequencing in the very near future. For this purpose, we, the Genome 10K Community of Scientists (G10KCOS), will assemble and allocate a biospecimen collection of some 16 203 representative vertebrate species spanning evolutionary diversity across living mammals, birds, nonavian reptiles, amphibians, and fishes (ca. 60 000 living species). In this proposal, we present precise counts for these 16 203 individual species with specimens presently tagged and stipulated for DNA sequencing by the G10KCOS. DNA sequencing has ushered in a new era of investigation in the biological sciences, allowing us to embark for the first time on a truly comprehensive study of vertebrate evolution, the results of which will touch nearly every aspect of vertebrate biological enquiry.
Key Words: ancestral state reconstruction comparative genomics G10K molecular evolution species conservation vertebrate biology
* G10KCOS authors are listed in the Appendix.
Corresponding Editor: Stephen Karl
Received July 22, 2009
Revised September 21, 2009
Accepted September 22, 2009