Over eight years, 4,500 plant and animal species will be deciphered as part of the program called ATLASea, co-piloted by the CNRS and the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and funded to the tune of 41 million euros, the ministry announced on Thursday. of Higher Education and Research.

Specimens of fish, mammals, algae, unicellular organisms... will be collected from the second half of 2023, on foot on the coast and during offshore and deep expeditions.

From seven main sites in mainland France (including La Rochelle, Roscoff and Banyuls) and four overseas (New Caledonia, French Polynesia, West Indies and Mayotte), with the participation of the famous Tara ship.

While most of the target species are already known, a few may be discovered during expeditions.

With 4,500 species captured, out of the approximately 12,000 identified in the metropolitan area, "we will have a vision of all the major groups that make up marine biodiversity," Patrick Wincker, co-director of ATLASea, told AFP.

The samples taken will be frozen and then transferred to Genoscope in Evry, equipped with new machines.

The equipment will make it possible "to extract long chains of DNA before reconstituting the entire sequence of the genome", using computers, details Hugues Roest Crollius, director of the program for the CNRS, on the site of the public body.

Objective: “Establish reference genome sequences”, that is to say complete ones, adds Patrick Wincker who directs Genoscope.

The program counts on 70 million genes.

They will be stored in a database which will make it possible to trace the evolution of biological processes, but also to compare genetic variations.

"We will thus know the level of genetic diversity of species", a key indicator for monitoring their state of preservation, adds the scientist.

Because we know that in endangered species, such as large cetaceans, genetic diversity decreases.

"Often, before seeing a species disappear, we realize that it is in danger because of this decrease" which makes it more fragile to environmental variations, develops Patrick Wincker.

The program should help improve the management of fishing stocks, in particular by studying the impact of invasive species.

It will also be used to identify new molecules in the medical field, or agronomy.

With nearly 11 million square kilometres, the French maritime domain is the largest in the world behind the United States.

"This position gives us a responsibility with regard to the study of marine biodiversity", emphasizes Hugues Roest Crollius.

© 2023 AFP