Seabed exploration began in the 1950s and 60s. Research in this area is therefore recent and, to date, all marine biodiversity has not yet been described. For 10 days, the schooner hosted a specific mission to make an inventory of the biodiversity of Kimbe Bay, in Papua New Guinea. In order to help biologists and chemists to discriminate between species, in other words to identify them, CEA Genoscope engineers have introduced a new type of DNA sequencer: MinIon. A technological jewel smaller than a smartphone. Explanations in pictures.

© Noëlie Pansiot – Tara Expeditions Foundation