Aliens of the sea
Vinson of Antarctica, October 15, 2021.
42∘ 14’ N 08∘ 40’ W - Galician Coast
Thirty hours ago, along the northwest corner of Brittany, Arturo Oyarzun Teiguel and Tito Muñoz Sandoval deployed plankton trawling nets for the first time aboard Vinson of Antarctica and certainly the first time in their young, 18 and 16 years respectively, lives. The four conical mesh nets brought aboard small squid, krill and a mature Ctenophora, a descendent of perhaps one of the earliest branches of the tangled tree of Life.
As we set the lines on a calm sunset, many themes converged in that moment.
The team aboard is tasked with delivering Vinson, arguably the most capable exploration sailing vessel built to date, to Puerto Williams in Patagonian Chile to start its career delivering filmmakers, scientists and explorers to the frozen continent.
The Vinson team generously offered to host the science team of the Ocean Genome Atlas Project on its 9,000 nm journey across the Atlantic. OGAP is combining cutting edge genomic tools aboard smaller and flexible SRVs (Sailing Research Vessels) to build a high-resolution genomic atlas of the oceans to advance our understanding of evolutionary and fundamental biology, the biodiversity of marine life and help develop the biomedicines of the future.
It’s a big ocean and a big task. Daunting at times. But the moment is upon us. Newly developed and incredible sequencing technology and advanced supercomputers coupled with AI are allowing insights into the molecular workings of biology. Planktonic organisms hold the keys to the earliest development of intercellular communication revealing secrets of the working of our brains and many other biological processes. Climate change is threatening to eliminate many of these marine organisms resulting in the permanent loss of our biological heritage.
So up against a challenge we humans bring our best tools. Vinson is an incredible vessel – the result of the 500,000+ miles of Skip Novak’s seagoing experience, Tony Castro’s 1,000+ vessel designs and the best of Dutch shipbuilding in Eeuwe Kooi and his team at KM Yachtbuilders. OGAP is onboarding advanced microscopes and tools for genetic analysis including the ability to disassociate and code individual cells for further sequencing. Key assets are the new -80∘ Stirling freezers, developed to deliver CV19 vaccines to remote locations. These amazing units will allow our team to maintain and deliver pristine samples for later high-resolution genomic sequencing.
But in the end, it takes lines, nets and some strong willing arms to haul in the samples. Arturo and Tito have been trained to sail at the Cedena School in their hometown of Puerto Williams Chile. As they start their lives and careers at sea, I hope that the experience of gathering and understanding the incredible but delicate creatures of our oceans stays with them and that they and their generation help us decipher, appreciate and protect the gift of Life.
Peter Molnar
Director Ocean Genome Atlas Project
