What can we learn from the Vertebrate Genome Project? : Shortwave : NPR

The Vertebrate Genomes Project is an international group of scientists who want to sequence the genomes of around 70,000 species – starting with the platypus.

ilbusca/Getty Images

Hide caption

Toggle label

ilbusca/Getty Images

The Vertebrate Genomes Project is an international group of scientists who want to sequence the genomes of around 70,000 species – starting with the platypus.

ilbusca/Getty Images

The Vertebrate Genomes Project: It is an ambitious effort by an international group of scientists to create a “genomearche” by sequencing the genomes of approximately 70,000 animal species. The hope is that through this gene sequencing, scientists can answer some basic but important questions, such as: What makes a bird, well, a bird? What makes a mammal a mammal? And with so many species at risk of extinction, can scientists record their genetic information before they go extinct—or, better yet, perhaps help save the population from extinction? Guest host Jon Hamilton, one of our favorite science correspondents, speaks with Erich Jarvis, chair of this project, to learn what this ark of animal genomes could mean for our future – and why a platypus is suitable for early housing.

Want to hear more funny animal stories? Let us know at [email protected] — We read every email.

Stop Short Wave Spotify And Apple Podcasts.

Listen to every episode of Short Wave without a sponsor and support our work at NPR by subscribing to Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

This episode was produced by Jessica Yung. It was edited by Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones fact-checked. Kwesi Lee was the sound engineer.