Species and communities can respond to global climate change by genetically adapting to new environmental conditions, by shifting their range or through phenotypic plasticity. This Review summarizes approaches that apply and integrate omics tools to experimentally investigate, monitor and predict these species responses.

In this Perspective, Carolyn Hogg discusses the utility of genomic data to conservation and the importance of adopting a translational mindset to ensure that genomics is used to its full potential to protect Earths’ declining biodiversity.

Aashiq Kachroo highlights a recent paper by van Loggerenberg et al. that demonstrates the experimental power of ‘humanized yeast’ to gain insight into the genetic variants underlying disease.

Martin et al. report that the EP400/TIP60 complex can compensate for function of the SWI/SNF complex to remodel chromatin at some promoters.

Segun Fatumo highlights a paper by Mahajan et al. that uses a multi-ancestry genome-wide association studies approach to uncover the genetic underpinnings of type 2 diabetes, emphasizing the importance of incorporating diverse populations in such studies.

Zhang et al. describe mSwAP-In, a platform for large-scale, efficient, biallelic and ‘scarless’ genome editing in mice.

Geopolitical instability has prompted renewed discussions on the risks of DNA technology being weaponized in international conflict. With today’s changing security environment, the authors argue that risk assessments must be broadened from genetically targeted weapons to a series of new domains.

Johnson et al. identify a WNT regulator that underlies the development and evolution of distinct colour patterning in the African striped mouse.