Biodiversity Genomics

Sumatran tiger

Genomics, the comprehensive study of an organism’s genome, unifies and empowers all biological sciences. The integration of genomic science, methods, tools, applications, and findings are having measurable impacts on research throughout the Smithsonian Institution and will engender an array of collaborative and multidisciplinary projects of wide scientific and public interest, as well as biomedical, agricultural, industrial, and societal importance. Advances in genomics are enhancing our knowledge of the earth’s biological diversity and will lead to new discoveries that will benefit current and future human societies.   

Researchers from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s Center for Species Survival are working closely with the Smithsonian Institute for Biodiversity Genomics to provide the high-profile, multi-disciplinary scholarship, leadership, collaborative spirit, and logistical support necessary for comprehensive research on biodiversity genomics.

These efforts take advantage of the Smithsonian’s collections and laboratories, complemented by field-based initiatives and research centers that support vibrant public and private collaborations. Together, these assets will provide the catalyst and infrastructure for the success of this initiative.

Goals

  • Transform our understanding of the patterns of biological diversity and the processes underlying diversification through ground-breaking research using the latest genomic technologies.
  • Combine the newest tools of genomics, data accessibility, and social networking to promote broader public and societal engagement in the exploration of the links between genetic variation, biological diversity, and the healthy functioning of a sustainable world.

Continue Exploring

A whiteboard from a scenario planning workshop with x-and-y graphs with axes representing "political will" and "population size" and colorful dots added to sections

Case Study: Scenario Planning in Northwestern Virginia

Virginia Working Landscape

Case Study: Land Use Modeling in Northwestern Virginia
A researcher stands among tall trees in a sunlit forest in Virginia.

Changing Landscapes Initiative
Smithsonian scientists work alongside community members in Northwestern Virginia to evaluate the impacts of land-use change on wildlife, ecosystem services and community health.
Corals

Coral Biobank Alliance
Smithsonian scientists are part of the Coral Biobank Alliance, a global network of coral experts preserving corals for restoration and research.
coral reef

Coral Cryopreservation Training Course
An underwater photo of a coral reef with a large coral in the foreground surrounded by smaller corals and fish swimming in the distance

Coral Species Cryopreserved with Global Collaborators​
View a list of the coral species that have been cryopreserved using a technique developed by Smithsonian scientists.
Herd of wildebeest grazing on an open grassy plain with one tree

Wildebeest Conservation
Conservation Ecology Center scientists are tracking the movements of white-bearded wildebeest to understand how changes across the landscape impact the species.
A small bird called a piping plover stands on a sandy shore

Protecting Piping Plovers in the Great Lakes
In 2022, the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center will begin a new research project to help protect endangered piping plovers from predation by merlins.
A swift fox wearing a tracking collar is released at Ft. Belknap

Swift Fox Recovery
Smithsonian scientists, in collaboration with the Fort Belknap Fish and Wildlife Department, are embarking on a five-year swift fox reintroduction project to restore swift foxes to tribal lands and to help reestablish connectivity between disjointed swift fox populations.
A large leafy tree growing adjacent to a body of water, with cattle grazing in the grass underneath its canopy

Conserving the World’s Largest Working Wetland
Conservation Ecology Center researchers are collaborating with institutions in Brazil and other Smithsonian colleagues to support sustainable cattle ranching in the Pantanal wetland.