The genetic code of all 1.5 million known species of animals and plants living on earth will be mapped to help save species from extinction and boost human health. Scientists hope that cracking the genetic code of plants and animals could help uncover new treatments for infectious diseases, slow aging, improve crops in agriculture, and create new bio-materials.
In Britain, organizations including the Natural History Museum, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and the Wellcome Sanger Institute have joined forces to sequence Britain's 66,000 species of animals and plants. Dubbed the Darwin Tree of Life Project, it is expected to take 10 years and cost £100 million. Once completed, all the information will be publicly available to researchers.
Many scientists believe that earth has now entered the sixth mass extinction, with humans creating a toxic mix of habitat loss, pollution and climate change, which has already led to the loss of at least 77 species of mammals and 140 types of birds since 1500. It is the biggest loss of species since the dinosaurs were wiped out 66 million years ago. Scientists say that sequencing every species will revolutionise the understanding of biology and evolution, bolster efforts to conserve as well as protect and restore biodiversity.
Dr. Tim Littlewood, head of Life Sciences Department at the Natural History Museum, said, "Whether you are interested in food or disease, the history of how every organism on the planet has adapted to its environment is recorded in its genetic makeup. How you then harness that is dependent on your ability to understand it. We will be using modern methods to get a really good window on the present and the past. And of course, a window on the past gives you a prospective model on the future."
Sir Jim Smith, Director of Science at Wellcome, said, "Try as I might, I can't think of a more exciting, more relevant, more timely or more internationally inspirational project. Since 1970, humanity has wiped out 60 percent of animal populations. About 23,000 of 80,000 species surveyed are approaching extinction. We are in the midst of the sixth great extinction event of life on our planet, which not only threatens wildlife species, but also imperils the global food supply. As scientists, we all realise we desperately need to catalogue life on our fragile planet now. I think we're making history."