Reference-grade genomes as a tool for conserving Kazakhstan’s national pride species: the cases of the Caspian seal and Greig’s tulip

This article presents the potential of third-generation sequencing (TGS) technologies to support biodiversity conservation efforts in Kazakhstan. We focus on two emblematic species - Pusa caspica (Caspian seal) and Tulipa greigii - that are both under conservation threat and lack comprehensive genomic resources. This mini-review highlights the transformative role of third-generation sequencing (TGS) in biodiversity conservation, using Kazakhstan as a case study. We do not aim to systematically compare sequencing technologies or exhaustively catalog all available genomic data. Rather, we discuss how high quality gapless reference genomes produced using TGS platforms such as PacBio HiFi and Oxford Nanopore represent an effective tool for species conservation efforts providing valuable information for the assessment of population genomic health, and for the identification of genes linked to adaptation and disease resistance. Finally, we suggest expanding this approach to include additional species of national importance, such as the saiga antelope, the Tazy and Tobet dogs, and the pink flamingo, as part of a national genomic biodiversity initiative.

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