World Environment Day Special:
How MGI Tech's Sequencing Technology Is Protecting Our Planet
Key Takeaways
Summary
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World Environment Day
Today marks the 55th World Environment Day. This year’s theme — “Climate Action” — calls on all of us to act with greater urgency.
Human activities, industrial pollution, climate change, disease outbreaks, invasive species, and habitat loss are reshaping ecosystems at an alarming rate. A species may disappear before we have even named it. The decline of a wetland often begins not with the departure of the last waterbird, but with a quiet imbalance in its sediment microbial community. An invasive species doesn’t always arrive with fanfare — sometimes it starts with the gradual silencing of eDNA signals from native species.
To protect the environment, we must first understand it.
At MGI, we are committed to transforming environmental DNA into quantifiable, traceable technological applications. Today, we present six real-world research case studies that demonstrate how MGI’s sequencing technologies are empowering ecological protection and biodiversity conservation across the globe.
1. Freshwater Environment Health Monitoring
The health of freshwater ecosystems is essential for sustaining human society — yet rivers and streams are under increasing pressure. Aquatic insects are highly sensitive to changes in water quality, making them valuable bioindicators for river health monitoring.
In 2024, researchers at Shinshu University in Japan collected environmental samples from two river systems — the Sagami River and the Saka River — and performed eDNA sequencing on MGI’s G400 platform. Using a combination of two primer sets (MtInsects‑16S and COI), the study achieved strong species detection coverage of 80.0%. The team also constructed a localised reference database prior to monitoring, establishing a replicable paradigm for standardised eDNA monitoring protocols:
Localised reference database → Physical capture → eDNA detection → Comparative validation
2. Aquaculture Management
Genetic diversity in farmed fish populations is critical for long-term productivity and resilience. Reduced diversity leads to inbreeding depression — higher deformity rates, lower survival, and diminished adaptability. Traditional assessment methods require invasive tissue sampling, which is stressful for animals and labour-intensive for researchers.
In 2026, the University of Bologna (Italy) used gilthead seabream — a major farmed species in the Mediterranean — as a model. Water samples were collected from four rearing ponds, and eDNA sequencing was conducted on the G400 platform. Results showed that whole-genome genetic diversity data obtained via eDNA were largely consistent with those from traditional tissue samples. This study marked the first demonstration of eDNA sequencing for monitoring whole-genome genetic diversity in farmed fish populations.
3. Fish Diversity Research
Brown trout is one of the most widely distributed freshwater fish in the world, comprising multiple evolutionary lineages with high economic and ecological value. Extensive artificial stocking programmes have introduced non-native lineages into wild river systems, risking the dilution or loss of local genetic resources.
Researchers from the Water Research Institute of the Italian National Research Council collected water samples from ten river sites in central Italy and performed eDNA sequencing on the G400 platform. The study found that lineage compositions identified by eDNA were highly correlated with those from traditional methods, confirming eDNA sequencing as an effective tool for characterising mitochondrial diversity within brown trout populations — and for identifying and quantifying non-native lineages in the wild.
4. Endangered Species Protection
Primula palinuri Petagna — a primrose that grows exclusively on the sheer cliffs of the Mediterranean coast — has been listed as Endangered (EN) by the IUCN. Understanding its genetic vulnerabilities is critical to its survival.
In 2026, the University of Sannio (Italy) applied RAD-seq technology on MGI’s T7 platform, revealing that the species exhibits low heterozygosity, a high inbreeding coefficient, and restricted gene flow between populations. eDNA metabarcoding of flower samples also identified potential pollinating insects with flight ranges of less than two kilometres — further limiting connectivity between already fragmented populations. Ecological niche modelling confirmed that temperature is the primary factor influencing species distribution.
This study’s “triple-integration” framework — combining SNP genetic analysis, DNA metabarcoding, and ecological niche modelling — offers a replicable and standardised workflow for endangered species conservation globally.
5. Invasive Species Control
The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), native to the Americas, was first detected outside its native range in 2016. It has since rapidly spread across Africa, Asia, and Oceania, posing a significant threat to agricultural systems worldwide.
A research team from Monash University Malaysia performed whole-genome sequencing on 42 Malaysian fall armyworm individuals using the G400 platform, comparing them with publicly available samples from 18 countries. Results revealed that Malaysian populations are closely related to those from India, China, and East Africa. The study also detected genetic markers associated with insecticide resistance, heat tolerance, and altered sensory perception — providing critical genomic intelligence for developing targeted pest control policies.
6. Blue Carbon Ecosystem Protection
Blue carbon ecosystems — seagrass beds, salt marshes, and mangroves — are among the planet’s most powerful carbon sinks. They also provide coastal protection, water purification, and vital habitat for marine species. Yet while the vegetation of these ecosystems has been extensively studied, their underlying microbial communities have been largely overlooked.
In 2026, a research team from Stellenbosch University (South Africa) used the DNBSEQ platform to perform 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing on sediment samples from mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass beds in the Nahoon Estuary. The study identified a potential shared “core microbiome” across all three ecosystem types, while each retained its own unique microbial signature. Notably, significant spatial variation in microbial communities was observed between sampling sites just one kilometre apart — highlighting the fine-scale complexity of these ecosystems.
This research provides a candidate list of biological indicators for developing blue carbon ecosystem health diagnostics, laying the foundation for more accurate assessments of carbon sink potential.
MGI Tech is committed to advancing life science technologies that support a healthier, more sustainable planet. To learn more about MGI’s environmental and biodiversity sequencing solutions, contact us today.
Published 5 June 2026
