This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: In recent years, researchers at the University of Eastern Finland have been both leading and contributing to collaborative genome projects. These efforts have produced reference-quality genome assemblies for the Finnish brown hare and the mountain hare, as well as the Saimaa ringed seal, in collaboration with research partners.
Work on the Finnish forest reindeer genome is currently underway. Altogether, the genomes of 20 species have been published through collaborative projects involving UEF researchers. Genome sequencing would not be possible without the rapid development of sequencing methods.
"Modern bioscientific research is extremely equipment-intensive. With current resources, it is difficult to remain at the forefront of research in many fields. However, services such as DNA sequencing can now be outsourced to commercial providers very cost-effectively," says professor Jaakko Pohjoismäki from the Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland.
"Today, this is a remarkably level playing field. Research is carried out on an ordinary laptop computer with access to a supercomputer. This means that we do not have to compete over who has the most resources." The genomes sequenced by the researchers are included in the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA), which aims to map vast numbers of genomes over the coming years.
Finland is home to approximately 50,000 species, while Europe as a whole may have as many as 100,000. Samples of rare robber flies and other endangered insects have also been collected for the project in eastern Finland. The Darwin Tree of Life project, which is sequencing species found across Britain and Ireland, is the most advanced genome-mapping initiative.
Project Psyche, in turn, focuses on sequencing all European butterfly and moth species. The polar admiral is among the species from eastern Finland included in the project. "Work on butterfly and moth genomes is progressing rapidly.
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