The Genomics at Sea Program (GASP) is a pioneering ship-based marine research initiative conducted in partnership with Viking Expeditions, UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI).
Dedicated to understanding the “World’s Lungs”—oceanic phytoplankton—GASP utilizes Viking’s expedition fleet to conduct real-time environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing directly onboard. By converting the ships’ laboratories into advanced scientific hubs, GASP scientists can immediately analyze genetic data from microbial communities, bypassing the significant delays associated with shipping samples to shoreside facilities. This accelerated in situ approach, using Oxford Nanopore’s next-generation sequencing technology, provides critical insights into how these vital organisms are responding to environmental changes and climate stressors in regions where Viking Expedition ships travel, such as the Antarctic Peninsula and the Great Lakes. The program demonstrates a commitment to facilitating meaningful scientific discovery and enriching the travel experience by hosting leading researchers as part of the expedition field team.