Google has joined global scientific projects to preserve the DNA of endangered species. Why now, and why should you care? If we lose a species' genetic information, we lose key tools to bring it back and to protect the ecosystems you depend on.

What Google and the scientists are doing

Google is providing funding, support, and artificial intelligence tools to speed up genome sequencing for threatened species. The goal is to help the Vertebrate Genomes Project and the Earth BioGenome Project build a complete catalog of life’s genomes on Earth.

Sequencing a genome used to take years and cost millions. Today, thanks to advances in technology and AI models, it can be done in days and for a fraction of the cost. Tools like DeepPolisher, DeepVariant and DeepConsensus improve accuracy and reduce errors, which makes it realistic to process many more specimens.

The bet is clear: preserve genetic information now so we don't regret extinctions later.