The Earth BioGenome Project (EBP) and Pacific Biosciences of
California, Inc. (Nasdaq:PACB), a leading provider of
high-quality sequencing of genomes, transcriptomes and epigenomes,
today announced that PacBio will support the sequencing of
ecologically important organisms in the state of California through
the EBP. The effort will be centered at the University of
California, Davis.
Launched in 2018, the EBP aims to sequence the DNA
of all the planet’s eukaryote biodiversity, some 1.5 million known
species, over a period of 10 years. Currently, fewer than 4,500 –
or about 0.3 per cent of all known eukaryotic species – have had
their genome sequenced, with approximately 100 at reference
quality.
PacBio will sponsor the sequencing for several of
these organisms, including terrestrial and marine invertebrate
species important to the biodiversity of California, such as the
Western pygmy blue butterfly, one of the smallest butterflies in
the world and the smallest in North America, and the Pacific blood
star, an iconic California sea star with an enigmatic distribution
and a representative of a genus of sea stars that appears to be
less sensitive to the devastating wasting disease outbreak along
the West Coast. In order to provide scientists with reference-grade
genome assemblies for these organisms, the UC Davis Genome Center,
a world-class facility for genomics research and training, will use
the PacBio Sequel II System to generate HiFi reads, which provide
highly accurate, long-read sequence data.
“There is growing evidence that sequencing with
PacBio long HiFi reads provides powerful datasets for generating
reference-grade assemblies,” said Harris Lewin, PhD, Distinguished
Professor at UC Davis and chair of the EBP. “We are grateful to
PacBio for supporting these important conservation efforts and we
look forward to producing genomic resources that will be invaluable
not only for California-based scientists but also for scientists
around the world.”
Often only a single, fragmented draft genome is
available for a species, genus, or even family, which limits the
potential for conservation and ecological research efforts
investigating genetic diversity, evolution and the impact of
changing environments. By producing high-quality genome assemblies,
scientists can pinpoint problems that may, for example, be
accelerating a species’ path to extinction and use that information
to guide breeding and other programs for more successful
outcomes.
Jonas Korlach, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at
PacBio, commented: “It is an honor to support the generation of
high-quality reference genomes for organisms that are vital to our
home state of California. PacBio has a long and successful track
record of working with major genome sequencing programs, such as
the EBP-affiliated Vertebrates Genome Project and the Darwin Tree
of Life Project, and we are eager to help advance the EBP’s
ambitious goals as well.”
To learn more about the EBP, please visit
www.earthbiogenome.org.
About The Earth BioGenome
Project
The Earth BioGenome Project (EBP) is a confederated
network of partner organizations and affiliated projects that have
a common goal of sequencing and annotating the genomes of all 1.5
million known species of eukaryotes on the planet in 10 years. The
EBP aims to create a digital backbone of sequences from the tree of
life that will serve as critical infrastructure for biology,
conservation, agriculture, medicine, and the growing global
bioeconomy. During its inaugural year, the EBP has established a
foundation that will carry it toward completion of Phase I of the
project – the sequencing of a representative species of each of the
approximately 9,300 known eukaryotic taxonomic families of plants,
animals, protozoa, fungi, and other microbes in the next three
years. For more information please
visit www.earthbiogenome.org/
About Pacific Biosciences Pacific
Biosciences of California, Inc. (NASDAQ:PACB) offers
sequencing systems to help scientists resolve genetically complex
problems. Based on its novel Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT®)
technology, Pacific Biosciences’ products enable: de
novo genome assembly to finish genomes in order to more fully
identify, annotate and decipher genomic structures; full-length
transcript analysis to improve annotations in reference genomes,
characterize alternatively spliced isoforms in important gene
families, and find novel genes; targeted sequencing to more
comprehensively characterize genetic variations; and real-time
kinetic information for epigenome characterization. Pacific
Biosciences’ technology provides high accuracy, ultra-long reads,
uniform coverage, and the ability to simultaneously detect
epigenetic changes. PacBio® sequencing systems, including
consumables and software, provide a simple, fast, end-to-end
workflow for SMRT Sequencing. More information is available
at www.pacb.com.
Forward-Looking Statements All
statements in this press release that are not historical are
forward-looking statements, including, among other things,
statements relating to future availability, uses, accuracy, quality
or performance of, or benefits of using, products or technologies,
the suitability or utility of products or technologies for
particular applications or projects, the expected benefits of the
Earth BioGenome Project (EBP) and other future events. You should
not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, changes in
circumstances and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond
Pacific Biosciences’ control and could cause actual results to
differ materially from the information expressed or implied by
forward-looking statements made in this press release. Factors that
could materially affect actual results can be found in Pacific
Biosciences’ most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including Pacific Biosciences’ most recent reports on
Forms 8-K, 10-K and 10-Q, and include those listed under the
caption “Risk Factors.”
Pacific Biosciences undertakes no obligation to
revise or update information in this press release to reflect
events or circumstances in the future, even if new information
becomes available.
Contacts For Earth BioGenome
Project
Nicolette
Caperello530.754.0656ncaperello@ucdavis.edu
For Pacific Biosciences
Media: Colin Sanford 203.918.4347
colin@bioscribe.com
Investors: Trevin Rard 650.521.8450
ir@pacificbiosciences.com
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