From Permits to Samples: Addressing Key Challenges for High-Quality Reference Genome Generation in Europe.

DOI
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
41560422
Abstract
High-quality reference genome assemblies have become essential for deepening our understanding of biodiversity, yet obtaining them for many species remains surprisingly challenging. Drawing on experiences from the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) community, we focus on permit and sample-handling procedures leading up to nucleic acid sequencing, covering tasks such as ensuring ethical and legal compliance, verifying accurate species identification, maintaining sample integrity during transport, and isolating high-quality DNA or nuclei. While many of the challenges and solutions we discuss are broadly relevant, our regulatory and logistical examples are primarily from Europe. By synthesising practical guidance, we highlight the crucial importance of taxonomic expertise, proper vouchering and biobanking, rigorous cold-chain management or alternative preservation methods, and emphasise adherence to packaging and shipping requirements for biological materials. We showcase examples spanning diverse regions, taxa and source materials, which underscore the importance of context-specific strategies and internationally harmonised protocols, particularly for metadata reporting. Our recommendations aim to support both small-scale projects and large initiatives, directing collective efforts to facilitate efficient sampling, vouchering and sample processing for future genomic studies.
Date Issued
2026-02
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Subjects
DNA/RNA preservation
•
European Reference Genome Atlas
•
eukaryotes
•
genome sequencing
•
high molecular weight DNA
•
sampling design
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Reichel, Katja
Pohjoismäki, Jaakko
Astrin, Jonas J
Böhne, Astrid
Bortoluzzi, Chiara
Bužan, Elena
Del Campo, Javier
Ciofi, Claudio
Di-Nizo, Camilla B
Divakar, Pradeep K
Greve, Carola
Hampl, Vladimír
Hilgers, Leon
Laine, Veronika N
Leonard, Jennifer A
Lozano-Fernandez, Jesus
Lukić Bilela, Lada
Mazzoni, Camila J
McCartney, Ann M
Melo-Ferreira, José
Monteiro, Rita
Oomen, Rebekah A
Pavlek, Martina
Pimenta, João
Rindos, Michal
Tarieiev, Andrii
Tomasello, Salvatore
Vinnere Pettersson, Olga
Waterhouse, Robert M
Weber, Alexandra A-T
Zinenko, Oleksandr
de Guttry, Christian
Additional Credits
Journal
Molecular Ecology Resources
Publisher
Wiley
ISSN
1755-0998
1755-098X
Access(Rights)
open.access
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