A mission to sequence the genome of every known animal, plant, fungus and protozoan- a group of single-celled organisms is underway. The Earth BioGenome Project (EBP) has been described as a 'moon shot for biology' and aiming to complete the work within a decade. A key aim is to use the information in efforts to conserve threatened species.

Dr Jim Smith, director of science at the Welcome Trust described the mission as timely, adding that it was 'incumbent upon human beings to raise awareness of biodiversity'.