Through a partnership with the Vertebrate Genomes Project (VGP), Google is providing advanced AI tools and funding to help scientists sequence the genetic codes of threatened animals—an effort aimed at slowing species extinction worldwide.
Why it matters
Scientists estimate that up to one million species globally are at risk of extinction. Genomic sequencing gives conservationists a powerful tool to protect genetic diversity, design breeding programs, and guide species recovery.
The big picture
Google is deploying AI-powered technologies—DeepPolisher, DeepVariant, and DeepConsensus—to make genome sequencing faster, more accurate, and significantly more affordable, said the company in a press statement.
The process produces a complete genetic blueprint, often described as a species’ “biological instruction manual,” which researchers can use to inform conservation strategies.
Regional impact
The initiative has already successfully sequenced 13 endangered species, several of which are native to Southeast Asia, underscoring the project’s relevance to regional ecosystems.
Among them are:
The elongated tortoise, a critically endangered reptile undergoing captive breeding and reintroduction efforts
The hog deer, once widespread across South and Southeast Asia but now facing severe population decline
Eld’s deer, an endangered species that requires targeted breeding and conservation plans to survive
What they’re saying
“Understanding a species’ genome could be the key to their conservation,” wrote Lizzie Dorfman, group product manager, and Andrew Carroll, product lead for genomics at Google.
“By sequencing these animals’ genomes— their complete set of genetic instructions—scientists are able to support efforts to preserve genetic diversity and prevent further species loss,” they added.
Expanding the safety net
To scale the initiative, Google.org has awarded funding through its AI for Science program to The Rockefeller University, enabling the sequencing of 150 additional species.
The expansion could include wildlife found in the Philippines, a country known for high endemism but also among the most vulnerable to biodiversity loss, Google said in the same statement.
Why PH researchers benefit
The genomic data generated by the project will be made freely available to the global scientific community.
For local conservationists and researchers working to protect threatened species such as the Visayan spotted deer (Pilandok), access to these datasets and tools could significantly strengthen conservation planning and research capacity.
About the technology
Sequencing the first human genome took 13 years and $3 billion. Today, with AI-driven tools developed by Google researchers, the process can be completed in days at a fraction of the cost, correcting errors in genetic data and producing highly accurate results. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
