Rosneft, together with Innopraktika, a non-governmental development institute, and the Centre for Whole-Genome Sequencing, has launched a unique project to create a genomic database of living organisms in the Russian Arctic. This information is essential for long-term planning for the sustainable development of the region and the conservation of its fragile ecosystems.

In the first phase, specialists in different taxonomic groups will analyse the biodiversity of the Arctic and select the most valuable species for study.

Priority work includes the assembly of the complete polar bear genome, which will be carried out by staff from the Centre for Whole-Genome Sequencing. The high-performance computing cluster, one of the top 20 supercomputers in Russia, enables fast and high-quality processing of huge amounts of information and obtaining the most accurate data for subsequent interpretation.

Specialists from Lomonosov Moscow State University and other leading research institutes in the country were also involved to create a roadmap for the new project and identify priority research areas. Using cutting-edge genetic technologies, scientists will study the mechanisms of speciation and the ability of Arctic animals to adapt to harsh environmental conditions, clarify the taxonomic status of individual species, and develop recommendations for monitoring the health of Arctic ecosystems.

The new environmental initiative is part of Rosneft’s comprehensive research programme in the Russian Arctic. The Company’s Arctic Research Centre is carrying out the most ambitious programme of research in the region since Soviet times, with more than 50 major expeditions over the past 10 years and unprecedented geographical coverage of hydrometeorological, geological and biological research.

Rosneft
Information Division
September 11, 2024

Keywords: Environmental news 2024