China firm to map genome of 3 animals

SHENZHEN: A leading Chinese scientific research institute specialized in genome sequencing is all set to map the entire genome of three animals that live in extreme environments.

The Beijing Genomics Institute based in Shenzhen, or BGI-Shenzhen, said on Friday that the project was likely to be completed by the end of the year.

The initiative, which follows BGI-Shenzhen's genome sequencing projects on the first Asian and the panda, would provide scientists with the essential tools to understand how these endangered species have adapted to extreme climates and assess the impact of global warming on their survival, Zhang Yong, a project director of the institution, said at a press conference in the city.