The trajectory of cost reduction in DNA sequencing suggests that within a few years it will be feasible to sequence a fully representative set of more than 10,000 genomes, capturing much of the genomic diversity of vertebrate species. This would represent an unprecedented resource for the life sciences and for worldwide conservation efforts. The primary obstacle is lack of a coherent and comprehensive collection of validated tissue specimens. In April 2009, David Haussler, along with Steve O'Brien from the National Cancer Institute and
Oliver Ryder from the Zoological Society of San Diego, hosted a two-day workshop that brought together scientists involved in tissue specimen collection to discuss coordination of efforts, laying the groundwork for an eventual large-scale sequencing and analysis project.
