Seeing life through DNA
Comparing species for better protection
Each species has a unique DNA identity card. When these cards are of good quality, we can compare them between species and understand how a plant resists disease, how an animal adapts to the climate, or whether an insect is threatened with extinction. International projects, supported by Switzerland, are producing this reliable data so that we can take action and protect living things.
The DNA of a species can be used to identify its place in the tree of life.
The coloured rings indicate DNA characteristics and the quality of the associated data - key factors for comparing species.
Here, 51 species are represented: billions of data points analysed using bioinformatics.
Comparing their DNA shows how species resemble each other, differentiate or adapt.