CA23122 - Utilizing 10,000 genomes of European Lepidoptera (10kLepGenomes)

The 10kLepGenomes COST Action aims to take advantage of the massive amount of data being produced by genome initiatives, in order to understand pressing issues of biodiversity loss, pest control, and effects of climate change on local populations of organisms. With genomes available soon for close to 1000 species, and intiatives underway to provide genomes for a further 9000 species in Europe, Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) are poised to be a model group for how we can manage and utilise large amounts of data. Lepidoptera play an important role as pollinators, herbivores, and prey for a range of predators. Their genomes are conserved, small, and easy to sequence and assemble to chromosome level, thus making them a target for several large genome sequencing initiatives. Lepidoptera are also model groups for evolutionary, ecological, and developmental biological studies.

The 10kLepGenomes COST Action will organise workshops and training courses for Early Career Researchers, short term scientific missions, conferences, and more through five Working Groups. These groups will survey the societal needs for genomic information, identify stakeholders in the public and private domains, bring together species experts and genomics experts in field workshops. Working Groups will come up with best practices for genome assembly and study, at the reference genome level, and at the population genomic level, identify applications of genomic information relevant to society, and draw up recommendations for best practices. The 10kLepGenomes COST Action will set a precedent for collaborative efforts between citizen scientists, expert societies and genomics leaders.