 The paper discusses the importance of abstract comparative genomics in understanding gene, protein, and non-coding region evolution and function through large genome sequencing and assembly algorithms. It highlights how this research can aid in disease and drug target identification and positively impact human health. However, new challenges have emerged around data quantity, quality assurance, annotation, and interoperability, which require new tools and approaches to be addressed by the National Institutes of Health, NEA, Comparative Genomics Resource, CGR. This article was authored by Kristen Bornstein, Gary Gryan, E. Sally Chung, and others.