iBOL’s vision:
to illuminate biodiversity by developing globally accessible, DNA-based systems for the discovery and identification of all multicellular life.
This work has urgency if we are to effectively address biodiversity loss on our planet.
After successful completion of BARCODE 500K in 2015, the iBOL Consortium began planning its next research program – BIOSCAN – officially launched on June 16, 2019.
Estimated to cost $180 million, BIOSCAN will revolutionize our understanding of biodiversity and our capacity to manage it.
BIOSCAN involves more than a 1000 researchers from over 30 countries.
BIOSCAN’s three research themes employ DNA barcodes to speed species discovery, to probe species interactions, and to track species dynamics
Species Discovery
Our planet is an island of life in the cosmos. DNA barcoding has been aiding species discovery for 15 years, but millions of species await analysis.
BIOSCAN uses new protocols and sequencing platforms to increase the pace of analysis while decreasing cost. Ten million specimens from freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems will be analysed.
Generate barcode coverage for 2M species
Species Interactions
No organism is an island; it is a complex ecosystem. Species interactions are central to the functioning of biological systems, but most remain unknown.
BIOSCAN is using taxonomically targeted primer sets on the DNA extract from single specimens to reveal their commensals, mutualists, parasites and parasitoids – the
Reveal species interactions by targeting the symbiome
Species Dynamics
Biodiversity is in retreat, and current monitoring programs provide sparse insights into the shifting distributions and abundances of species.
BIOSCAN is employing metabarcoding to lay the foundation for an earth observation system. By examining biological communities from at least half the world’s ecoregions, BIOSCAN begins the task of compiling comprehensive biodiversity baselines.
Scan biological communities at 2,000 sites
BIOSCAN Stories
Oct 2, 2019
The iBOL Consortium launches a research program that seeks to discover species and reveal their interactions and dynamics
Oct 2, 2019
Costa Rica’s newly started ten-year goal called BioAlfa is DNA barcoding an entire tropical country
Sept 3, 2019
“They were enlightened by the idea of discovering new species and by the possibility of doing so using DNA barcoding tools.”
Species Dynamics in Kruger National Park, South Africa
Jun 1, 2019
In Kruger National Park, the important role insects play often goes unnoticed in comparison to the big five. BIOSCAN’s Kruger Malaise Program is working to change that.
BIOSCAN Funding & News
NorBOL’s biodiversity research infrastructure receives NOK 2 million
Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre has announced NOK 2 million in new funding to support the Norwegian Barcode of Life.
Funding Overview
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$50M in kind specimen collection
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$45M services
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$45M sequencing
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