We are part of the International Earth BioGenome Project
The Canadian BioGenome Project is the Canadian branch of the international consortium—the Earth BioGenome Project—which aims to sequence the genomes of all the eukaryotic biodiversity.
Identify species of specific importance to Canada.
Generate high quality reference genomes for Canadian species.
Represent Canada within the Earth BioGenome Project in the effort to sequence all Eukaryotic life on Earth.
Develop genomic information and bioinformatic tools to inform policy, conservation and monitoring.
Demonstrate how genomics can aid conservation, biodiversity, restoration, and species monitoring.
The central goal of the Canadian BioGenome Project is to produce high quality reference genomes for all Canadian species. Priority will be placed on species of specific relevance to Canada or where genomic information will aid in developing policy recommendations for increased conservation and monitoring of at-risk species. Species selection will be a collaborative effort with active contribution from scientific leaders, Indigenous partners, and end users. Whole genome sequencing, sequence assembly, and annotation will be conducted for the chosen species. The resultant genomes will be freely available, and we will also develop a user-friendly geospatial platform to store and provide easy access to project outcomes to interested non-experts and others.
Our GE3LS (Genomic, Ethical, Environmental, Economic, Legal, Social) program ensures that priority species will be studied and that robust policy recommendations for responsible use of genomics will be developed. Priority will be placed on species in the sub-Arctic and Arctic where climate change is already having a profound impact on wildlife and vegetation. The resultant genomes will be freely available, and we will populate the database being developed to store and provide easy access to geospatial information and metadata on the samples to non-expert parties.
Co-Director and Head of Bioinformatics for Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre
Director of the Arctic Institute of North America at the University of Calgary
Co-investigator, Centre for Applied Genomics, The Hospital for Sick Children
Co-investigator, McGill University
Co-investigator, University of Guelph
Co-investigator, Royal Ontario Museum
Co-investigator, Geomatics and Cartographic Research Centre, Carleton University
Co-investigator, European Bioinformatics Institute
Co-investigator, African Lion Safari, Queen's University
The Canadian BioGenome Project (CBP) is dedicated to advancing genomic science for the benefit of all. Rapid and open data sharing strategically supports this mission by enabling research and accelerating translation. The CBP Data Deposition Policy follows standards in genomics and the text was adopted from the Sanger Institute Data Use Policy (v2 May 2014) and requires that data is shared as widely and effectively as possible with the following considerations:
The Project aims to provide rapid access to data sets of use to the research community and will place these in publicly accessible repositories as soon as practically possible.
All generated data are deposited to the NCBI as BioProject 813333 and accessible from Ensembl.
We recognize the need for researchers to be appropriately credited for their scientific contribution and investment in data generation. It is therefore expected that all researchers follow data sharing principles and appropriately acknowledge the contribution of others.
For additional information, see CGen Data Sharing Policies and EBP Report on Sample Collection and Processing Standards.
Canada possesses significant biodiversity, with roughly 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.
The 2020 federal Wild Species report, which assessed ~50,534 Canadian species, identified ~4.5 per cent (2,253 species) as “May Be at Risk” in Canada.
As of May 2023, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada’s (COSEWIC) assessments included 846 wildlife species in various risk categories; 21 Extirpated (i.e., no longer found in the wild in Canada). In addition, 23 wildlife species have been assessed as Extinct.
Assessments by Indigenous Peoples in Canada also reflect systemic change— Inuit report declining abundance, health, and populations of several species.