Brad Shaffer leads a genome cataloging project to conserve California’s plant and animal species | Sustainable LA Grand Challenge

Katerina Jowid
September 16, 2022
SLAGC News and Events

Publication: N.Y. Times

UCLA Expert: Brad Shaffer: Distinguished Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Director, UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science

Synopsis: Animal conservation projects can pose ethical questions. Scientists must decide which areas are of high diversity and should be prioritized for protection.

UCLA News: An ambitious project of more than 100 scientists led by Shaffer is currently working to catalog the genomes of about 230 animal and plant species across California. The goal is to create a map of the state’s genetic diversity and identify hot spots.