What is the Earth BioGenome Project?
Powerful advances in genome sequencing technology, informatics, automation, and artificial intelligence, have propelled humankind to the threshold of a new beginning in understanding, utilizing, and conserving biodiversity. For the first time in history, it is possible to efficiently sequence the genomes of all known species, and to use genomics to help discover the remaining 80 to 90 percent of species that are currently hidden from science.
How many species have been sequenced so far?
A GRAND CHALLENGE
The Earth BioGenome Project (EBP), a moonshot for biology, aims to sequence, catalog and characterize the genomes of all of Earth’s eukaryotic biodiversity over a period of ten years.
A GRAND VISION
Create a new foundation for biology to drive
solutions for preserving biodiversity and sustaining human societies.
Why Sequence Life?
Featured Species
The Orange-tip Butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines)
High-quality Chromosomal-level Genome
Sequenced by the Darwin Tree of Life at the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
This is the first and only genome published for this common European butterfly species.
Expanding African biodiversity genomics to meet global biodiversity goals
African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP)
Authors: Sally Mueni Katee, Marietjie Botes, Ichrak Hayah, Varsha Nagaraj Shetty, Emmanuel Hala Kwon-Ndung, Girish Beedessee, Sadye Paez, Sizwe Innocent Ndlovu, Bouabid Badaoui, Semir Bechir Suheil Gaouar, Sadik Muzemil, Denye Nathaniel Ogeh, Abdoallah Sharaf, Kassahun Tesfaye, Chukwuike Ebuzome, Richard Osei-Amponsah, Chigoziem Ruth Torty, Hawwa Gabier, Samuel C. Eziuzor, Fatu J. Badiane Markey, Julien Alban Nguinkal, Achraf El Allali, Anne W. T. Muigai, Justin E. Ideozu, and ThankGod Echezona Ebenezer
Journal: Nature Reviews Biodiversity (2026)
Events & Education
EBP Life Newsletter:
We’re excited to share our seasonal newsletter highlighting the successes of the Earth BioGenome Project (EBP).
The EBP now includes more than 61 global affiliated projects, all united by the mission to generate annotated, reference-quality genomes for ~1.8 million named eukaryotic species.
Issue 5: Global Voices, Global Genomes
Biodiversity genomics is powered by people as much as by technology. In this issue of EBP Life, we hear from the global voices building the infrastructure, trust, and collaboration behind sequencing life on Earth.
Addressing ERGA Community Feedback: Actions and Plans for Genomes on a Tree (GoaT)
🗓️ Join us: February 16, at 15:00 CET
Cibele Sotero-Caio, curator of the Genomes on a Tree (GoaT) database, will present an update on this important repository of genome-relevant metadata, including recent developments and efforts to address feedback from its growing user community.
✅ Find out more here
“As the biodiversity crisis gathers pace, so must our sequencing.”
Professor Harris Lewin, Chair, EBP Executive Council
