September 2024
For biodiversity conservation, the newly established nonprofit Wise Ancestors, with acclaimed scientists such as Dr. Keolu Fox, Dr. David Haussler, and Dr. Beth Shapiro on its board, has recently debuted its namesake platform to advance decentralized genomic research tied to upfront benefit-sharing as recommended by United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity’s Nagoya Protocol. As an Affiliated Project of the Earth BioGenome Project, Wise Ancestors Conservation Challenges will contribute to the leading global conservation genomics effort, dubbed “a moonshot for biology,” to sequence all known plant, animal, and fungi species.
Unique to the conservation genomics space, Wise Ancestors’ reference genomes will not only be co-developed with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities and include a benefit-sharing component, but they will also be completed by way of crowdfunding and decentralized, open scientific collaboration via its namesake platform. Scientists, bioinformaticians, laboratories, platforms, and biobankers are encouraged to apply to participate and receive compensation for completing elements of the research as well.
“Instead of carrying out the biotechnological work in-house, we focus on project co-development, fundraising, and coordination. Through our decentralized model, we partner with established labs, platforms, and companies to handle experimental lab work. We encourage future collaborators to join our efforts by registering on our platform and applying to participate in a range of Wise Ancestors Conservation Challenges,” said Dr. Solenne Correard, Scientific Director of Wise Ancestors. The nonprofit plans on announcing its second set of Pilot Series of Conservation Challenges before the end of the year.
“Wise Ancestors is perpetually open for collaboration, and co-creating Conservation Challenges with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities is at the foundation of what we do,” said Dr. Ann Pace, Executive Director of Wise Ancestors. “Our unique model will increase both genomic resources and investment in Indigenous-led and local community projects such as land stewardship, land ownership, and conservation-related training and capacity building,” she added.
“I've struggled my entire professional career to understand the mysteries written in genomes, the DNA message of life. Genomes hold the deepest secrets of our planet. Each genome records a four billion year struggle for survival. Let them speak! Let the message be carried forward in a living chain! Wise Ancestors embrace the sacred duty of the preservation of life's forms. To save even just one from extinction is to preserve an invaluable treasure, ” said Dr. David Haussler, Director and President of Wise Ancestors, and Distinguished Professor of Biomolecular Engineering and Scientific Director of the Genomics Institute at the University of California Santa Cruz.
“As the International Scientific Chair of the Earth BioGenome Project, I believe sequencing life is now a responsibility we all share. We have already run out of time; it is imperative that we collect as much genetic information as possible to prevent further loss, conserve what we have, and prepare to mitigate the impacts of climate change. I hope this work will provide future generations with the knowledge and tools they need to restore species, habitats, and ecosystems. It's about leaving a legacy of hope and action in the face of a global crisis, ensuring that we don't just witness the decline of life on Earth but actively work to reverse it,” said Dr. Federica Di Palma, Scientific Advisor to Wise Ancestors and Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of Research and Innovation at Genome British Columbia.
“Wise Ancestors fills a critical gap by creating a bridge between cutting-edge biotechnology and the deep, traditional knowledge held by Indigenous communities. By integrating these perspectives, we can address conservation challenges with a holistic approach that honors both science and tradition. Co-developing genomic projects with Indigenous Peoples and local communities is also vital to ensuring that research is both ethical and effective. This approach respects the sovereignty and knowledge of Indigenous communities and leads to more comprehensive and culturally sensitive outcomes. This platform proposes an innovative model for sharing equitably the benefits of genomic research and ensuring that Indigenous knowledge systems are respected and preserved. I hope this collaborative model becomes the standard in genomic research, fostering trust and creating solutions that are truly inclusive,” Di Palma added.
“Examples of incorporating at a fundamental level the involvement of local communities and Indigenous Peoples in the expansion of global genomics efforts is an urgent need. Wise Ancestors stands out for their efforts to address this need in a just, equitable and inclusive way,” said Dr. Oliver Ryder, Scientific Advisor to Wise Ancestors and Kleberg Endowed Director of Conservation Genetics at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
“The next generation demands biology done ethically. They demand accountability, fairness, and retribution. Wise Ancestors gives individuals to corporations a way to contribute to more ethical genomics and conservation,” said Dr. Rachel Meyer, Scientific Advisor to Wise Ancestors, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz, Director of CALeDNA, and Director of the UC Conservation Genomics Consortium.
“From a cosmic standpoint, by far the most valuable thing on Earth is its life, and the millions of species crafted by eons of evolution. The genetic, biological, ecological, and cultural information bound within these species is precious beyond comparison. And yet humanity is repeatedly hitting the ‘delete’ button. Wise Ancestors’ hope instead to preserve and safeguard these species for their own sake and for all those that come after us,” said Dr. Anthony Aguirre, Executive Director of the Future of Life Institute, President of the Future of Life Foundation, and the Faggin Presidential Professor for the Physics of Information at UC Santa Cruz.
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