Natural history museums are often seen as static archives, but a new perspective argues they are untapped genomic treasure troves. Collectively, these collections hold over one billion specimens, gathered across vast stretches of time and geography. That scale makes them a uniquely rich source of biological information.
The value lies in what the specimens represent: species that have since gone extinct, and habitats that have been altered beyond recognition. For researchers, sequencing genomes from these preserved samples could yield data that is physically impossible to obtain from the modern world.
This approach could transform how scientists study evolutionary history, biodiversity loss, and ecological change. By turning museum drawers into genomic databases, researchers may be able to answer questions that previously seemed out of reach.