Phytoplankton Genetically Sequenced at Sea for First Time on Viking Expedition Ship

Viking today announced its latest scientific advancement being done on its expedition ship Viking Octantis, with the addition of real-time environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing of phytoplankton. With scientific support from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the J. Craig Venter Institute, the PCR lab onboard Viking Octantis has been converted into an advanced scientific environment where visiting scientists will contribute to the Genomics at Sea Program (GASP). 

This new program will allow scientists to monitor the environmental impact on phytoplankton without the need to transport samples to a shoreside facility. This marks a significant milestone in marine research and exploration, with Viking becoming the first travel company to support real-time environmental genetic sequencing capabilities on board its vessels.

The onboard advancements and participation in the GASP are an extension of Viking’s role in collaborating with Fjord Phyto, a NASA-funded program by Scripps. This program enables guests to participate in research and public education through sampling of polar phytoplankton for genetic population analyses.

“Ever since we created Viking Expeditions, it has always been our intention to help facilitate meaningful scientific work,” said Karine Hagen, Executive Vice President of Viking. “As we continue our third year of operating expeditions, we are pleased that we have been able to achieve our goal alongside esteemed scientific partners. By repurposing a technology that kept our guests safe in the height of the pandemic to gain valuable insights into our environment, we are providing a critical research opportunity for all of our future expedition voyages.”

The conversion of the PCR lab on board the Viking Octantis took place earlier this year while the ship was in Antarctica. The line will regularly host Scripps scientists on board the Viking Octantis ship this season in the Great Lakes. The PCR lab onboard sister ship Viking Polaris will also be transitioned this summer to further support research efforts.

Viking Expedition Team & Scientific Partners

From its partnerships with esteemed academic institutions, Viking has created the world’s leading scientific enrichment environment in an expedition setting. During each expedition, visiting researchers from partner institutions are part of the ship’s multidisciplinary 36-person expedition team. This group of experts leads guests through scientific research, guiding shore excursions, and delivering lectures.

Viking’s partner Scripps Institution of Oceanography works to understand environmental challenges, while JCVI’s mission is advancing the science of genomics to understand more about the biological world.

“We are excited about the significant scientific potential represented by this collaboration,” said Andrew Allen, a professor of marine biology at Scripps and JCVI. “Our ability to understand how ocean plankton communities respond to shifting conditions, resulting from both natural variation and human influenced perturbation, is limited by sampling and observation. Through this work we will obtain a new and more comprehensive view of the genetic diversity of plankton, which will advance our ability to assess the biological response of the ocean to climate change and other stressors.”

Viking has also partnered to support scientists with the equipment on land to allow for proper training and efficient execution of sequencing while on voyages with Viking’s expedition fleet.

 “Oceanic phytoplankton absorbs 40 percent of the world’s carbon and provides 50 percent of the world’s atmospheric oxygen. Along with the world’s forests, they are the ‘planet’s lungs’ and every second breath we take comes from phytoplankton,” said Dr. Damon Stanwell-Smith, Head of Science at Viking. “We are proud to offer our scientific partners the ability to better understand these organisms that play a critical role in the Earth’s carbon cycle in these remote regions.”

In addition to Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, Viking’s other scientific partners include:

• The University of Cambridge’s Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI)
• The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL)
• Norwegian Institute of Water Research (NIVA)
• Oceanites
• The IUCN Species Survival Commission Species Monitoring Specialist Group
• Norwegian Polar Institute

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