Ocean DNA

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

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A view of the entire Ocean hall exhibit at NMNH

What is Ocean DNA?

Ocean DNA is a museum-wide effort to leverage our collections and adopt museum practices to support the use of DNA sequencing to survey marine life and assess ocean health, with a special emphasis on undiscovered “dark taxa" that may play a critical role in ecosystems.

Ocean DNA will develop trusted genetic reference libraries to serve emerging sequence-based biodiversity technologies, unlocking the full potential of environmental DNA. Ocean DNA will improve genetic-based surveys of marine life to inform policy, conservation, and the sustainable use of marine resources. We will use our existing collections, implement field expeditions, build on our genomic expertise, and leverage our partnerships. Ocean DNA will discover new species, detect invasive species, monitor ocean health, measure change, assess management practices, and inform conservation for life on a sustainable planet.

a grouping of different species of coral underwater, with the surface of the ocean visible in the background

This project will...

Build DNA reference libraries to ensure that DNA sequences from marine environmental samples can be identified.

Use demonstration sites to validate standardized environmental monitoring protocols.

Develop standardized museum practices and workflows to curate and archive environmental samples.

Develop ocean health monitoring tools in coordination with partners to evaluate decisions.

Support a national eDNA monitoring network that engages communities for local stewardship.

Why NMNH?

Sea ocean wildlife such as star fish and sea urchins are displayed on top of a cabinet

Where else would you go to build the library?

Unparalleled collections – NMNH curates the national collection across all marine groups, with over 45 million specimens. NMNH has the largest library of marine life, maintained for over 100 years.

Colection Cabinet doors and drawers are opened displaying thousands of invertebrate species

Who else could do this?

Expertise – Our collective natural history knowledge, genetic experience, and infrastructure have enabled us to optimize the generation of genetic barcodes at scale to augment genetic reference libraries.

12 Large upright -40 freezers line either side of a hallway

Who else would you trust?

Longevity – We turn one-time samples into long-term collections. NMNH is the trusted repository for the curation and long-term storage of these critical collections, which will be maintained into perpetuity.

Five scuba divers swim just above an ocean floor carrying various scientific instruments — Scientists dive to the seafloor to deploy ARMS, Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures.

Who can deploy the resources?

Filling the gaps – Documenting the unknowns in regards to the knowns, both taxonomically and geographically, strategically focuses our field expeditionary efforts to maximize collections investment to build genetic reference libraries for more species.

A researcher holds a small container in one hand, and points to information on a white board covered with scientific illustrations as a small crowd stand and listen

Who should do this?

Public service –Federal, state and local partners look to NMNH as the biodiversity accountants and to build out and improve voucher-based genetic reference libraries to be used to identify environmental sequences.

Who else has the scope?

National Reach – NMNH is a trusted apolitical voice with access to a diverse audience; no other institution has a cross-country and international mandate for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.