Largest ocean DNA study glimpses infinite applications of marine life

He ocean It is the largest habitat in the world and also the most unknown, and although its incredible biodiversity hides enormous potential, very little is known about it. Now, thanks to an international team of scientists, the ocean’s wealth will be somewhat better understood.

The study, led by researcher Carlos Duarte, from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, is the largest and most complex database of marine microbes (essential for human life due to their influence on health). of the ocean and the terrestrial climate).

This global catalog of ocean DNA It represents an important scientific advance because it offers information on the applications of marine life to science and society, from biotechnological innovation to monitoring the effects of climate change.

“The Global Ocean Gene Catalog KMAP 1.0 represents a major step forward in understanding ocean diversity, containing more than 317 million gene clusters from marine organisms around the world,” explains Elisa Laiolo, lead author of the study and professor at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, the catalog will be freely available through the KAUST Metagenomic Analysis Platform (KMAP).

“Scientists can access the catalog remotely to investigate how different ocean ecosystems function, track the impact of pollution and global warming, and look for biotechnological applications such as new antibiotics or new ways to break down plastics – the possibilities are endless! !”highlights Carlos Duarte, lead author of the study and researcher at KAUST.

New technologies and gene sequencing

Researchers have been mapping marine biodiversity for hundreds of years, but in recent years, two technological advances have been key.

The first, the arrival of DNA sequencing technologies, which have made it possible to identify organisms directly from water and ocean sediments, and the second, the development of computer technology and Artificial Intelligence, capable of analyzing genetic material. of thousands of ocean samples.

The team analyzed DNA sequences from 2,102 ocean samples taken at different depths and in different locations around the world and identified 317.5 million gene clusters, of which more than half could be classified according to the type of organism and gene function. .

By cross-referencing this information with sample location and habitat type, the resulting catalog provides unprecedented information about which microbes live where and what they do.

The catalog has already revealed differences in microbial activity in the water column and ocean floor, and a surprising number of fungi living in the mesopelagic “twilight” zone.

These and other data will help scientists understand how microbes living in different habitats shape ecosystems, contribute to ocean health, and influence climate.

In addition, the catalog will also serve as a reference to track the effect of human activities, such as pollution and global warming, on marine life, and will provide a large amount of genetic material that researchers can explore in search of new genes that could be used for drug development, energy and agriculture.

Towards a global ocean genome

The KMAP Ocean Gene Catalog 1.0 is a first step towards developing a global ocean genome atlas, which will document all the genes of all the world’s marine species, from bacteria and fungi to plants and animals.

“Our analysis highlights the need to continue sampling the oceans, focusing on understudied areas such as the deep sea and ocean floors. Furthermore, given that the ocean is constantly changing – both due to human activity and natural processes – the catalog will need continuous updating,” says Laiolo.

However, despite its obvious advantages, the future of the catalog is uncertain, warns Duarte, mainly due to international legislation on the distribution of benefits from discoveries made in international waters.

“While the 2023 High Seas Treaty offers some solutions, it may inadvertently hamper research by reducing incentives for companies and governments to invest. “This uncertainty must be resolved now that we have reached the point where genetic and artificial intelligence technologies could unlock unprecedented innovation and progress in blue biotechnology,” warns the researcher.