A compendium of complete primate reference genomes to facilitate conservation, genomics, and ecology - Our understanding of primate evolution was transformed by the sequencing and assembly of the human reference genome which identified the content and context of genes shared amongst the many different taxa in the primate lineage. Subsequent efforts to assemble the genomes of chimpanzees, macaques, and other nonhuman primates further accelerated our under- standing of these and related species. Problematically, these genomes were of substantially lesser quality than the human genome and often relied on the human genome for long-range scaffolding. Recently however, the advent of long-read sequencing technologies have enabled de novo con- struction of complete, accurate vertebrate genome assemblies. These technological advances have supported renewed assemblies of a handful of apes and monkeys which are vastly improved providing unique insights into the evolution and biology of these species. Nevertheless, complete, accurate, reference quality genomes are lacking for the vast majority of the ~500 extant species of primates. Here we propose to construct complete reference genomes from 50 diverse primate species spanning 75 million years of evolution. Using state-of-the-art long-read sequencing and assem- bly methods we will sequence, assemble, annotate, align, and disseminate these genomes as a resource for the community. Source DNA will be derived from the Integrated Primate Bioma- terials and Information Resource (IPBIR) at the Coriell Institute for Medical Research (Coriell), from a high quality, low-passage, cytogenetically verified collection of cell lines. This resource will greatly enhance the potential for research that will advance our understanding of primate evolutionary history, population genomics, infectious disease, human origins, and primate biodiversity and conservation.
