Ecological Mosaic: Navigating the Diversity of Life and Habitats

Biodiversity - the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms like bacteria - is fundamental to humanity because it provides us with everything we need to survive, such as food and medicine. However, humans are putting increasing pressure on the planet causing an unprecedented loss of biodiversity. In this talk, I will take you on a journey about biodiversity, what it is, why it is important, what are the causes of its decline, and what we can do to reverse this loss. I will do this through the eyes of a genome, as the application of genomics to biodiversity conservation is putting us a new trajectory to save our world's biodiversity in new and - at times - unexpected ways.

In the quest to assess the health of our environment, conventional methods fall short, catering to only a limited range of organisms and demanding specialized skills. Enter the realm of environmental DNA (eDNA) assessment, a groundbreaking approach I pioneer. eDNA, released by all living entities in various forms such as dead skin cells, feces, and exhaled breath, holds the key to a comprehensive biodiversity survey. This transformative journey unravels the intricate beauty of the DNA molecule, unlocking unprecedented insights into nature. By deciphering the coded information within this remarkable molecule, we embark on a unique odyssey, gaining a profound understanding of our surroundings and paving the way for a harmonious coexistence with the natural world.