We are working with a variety of partners to build a rock solid reference sequence library for all of Oregon's animal species. As we grow the library it will provide the foundation needed to develop molecular tools and carry out genomic analyses for all of the species included in the collection.
Our Mission
The Oregon Biodiversity Genome Project is creating a comprehensive reference sequence library of Oregon's animal species. All georeferenced tissues, voucher specimens, and genomic data will be available to researchers for the development of novel molecular methods for environmental monitoring and phylogenetic analysis.
“A diversity of rare and threatened freshwater animals—representing amphibians, fish, mammals, insects and crustaceans—can be detected and quantified based on DNA obtained directly from small water samples of lakes, ponds and streams. ”
What We're Doing
- A huge effort on the part of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the US Forest Service PNW Research Station is underway to collect 10 specimens of each species of fish found in Oregon.
- We're always looking for partners to help collect vouchered tissues of all freshwater amphibians and collection of amphibians and freshwater mollusks has begun. Thanks USFS PNW Research Station!
- Funding is key and, alas, grant proposals don't write themselves, so grant writing efforts are ongoing.
- Our first round of sequencing and mitogenome assembly is complete. We now have full mitogenome data for 57 resident fish species.
- Onto our next push: finishing the sequencing of mitogenomes of all of Oregon's resident fish.
- We've been working with Jim Rivers' Lab to create a genomic library of all of western Oregon's bee [superfamily Apoidea] species. The only barrier to moving forward is the lack of funding... a constant theme!