ABSTRACT
Ethnobotany genomics is a novel approach that is poised to lead botanical discoveries and innovations in a new era of exploratory research. The concept for this new approach is founded on the concept of 'assemblage' of biodiversity knowledge, which includes a coming together of different ways of knowing and valorizing species variation in a novel approach seeking to add value to both traditional knowledge (TK) and scientific knowledge (SK). Ethnobotany genomics draws on an ancient body of knowledge concerning the variation in the biological diversity that surrounds different cultures; combined with modern genomic tools such as DNA barcoding it also explores the natural genetic variation found among
organisms. This genomic variation is explored along a gradient of variation in which any organism inhabits. We present here the first introduction to ethnobotany genomics including some background and several case studies in our lab, which define an approach to this new discipline that may evolve quickly with new ideas and technology. The motivation for this new approach is a quest to understand how the diversity of life that surrounds us can serve society-at-large with nutrition, medicine and more.
