Dear Colleagues,
John Gerhart and I are co-chairing an NHGRI working group on
Comparative Genome Evolution to make recommendations for
genome
sequencing targets. There is information on the new program
posted
at:
http://www.genome.gov/10002189
This working group will address the acquisition of new genomic
sequences for one or more of three main purposes: 1) the provision
of
sequence from critical phylogenetic positions, for example to
illuminate the evolution of major morphogenetic or physiological
innovations in evolution; 2) at a smaller evolutionary scale, the
provision of sequence from species that will allow the optimal
identification of conserved functional regions in the existing genome
sequence of important non-mammalian model systems; and 3) the
provision of information that addresses basic questions about
genome
evolution such as evolutionary rates; speciation; genome
reorganization, origins of variation, etc.
This program is intended to have a scope potentially encompassing
all
organisms except plants, algae, eubacteria and archaea. This
program
is for consideration of targets for large-scale genomic sequencing.
Proposals for EST sequencing, cDNA sequencing or the
development of
other genomic resources will not be considered by this procedure,
but
pilot sequencing may be possible to justify the consideration of an
organism.
We seek input from various research communities, and we
welcome
nominations, supported by as many answers as you can provide
the
questions appended at the bottom of this email. If you like, I can
email you a spreadsheet containing all these categories. We can
consider some genomes very soon, since we will be making our
first set
of recommendations in early April. This sequencing effort will
continue, and we are interested in knowing about candidate
genomes for
future years, from organisms still needing preliminary work. We look
forward to hearing from you.
Please cc: "Felsenfeld, Adam (NIH/NHGRI)"
<felsenfa at mail.nih.gov> on
inquiries or recommendations.
Best regards,
Laura Landweber
Proposed organism or set of organisms:
Contact or lead author:
Genome Size:
Method of genome size estimate:
Sequencing coverage-high, low, or just preliminary:
What is the need for the complete genome as opposed to BACs or
ESTs:
Sequencing strategy (e.g., whole genome shotgun) Phylogenetic or
Evolutionary argument(s): Polymorphism level: Availability of DNA:
Availability of BACs: Food source/symbionts/contaminants:
Argument(s)
for the usefulness of the genome sequence for annotating/
informing
other genomes: Preliminary data, if any: G/C content: Unusual
genome
characteristics: Is it an experimental organism? Which experimental
tools are available: Medical or Agricultural relevance, if any: Model
for any particular biological system(s) or other novelty: Readiness
for the genome: Size of research community: Other funding or
cDNA
projects, etc.: Any anticipated technical challenges: Is preliminary
work needed to assess genome readiness?
--
Laura F. Landweber, Associate Professor
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, 223 Guyot Hall
Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544-1003
http://www.princeton.edu/~lfl
tel 609-258-1947 * fax 609-258-7892 *
lfl at princeton.edu
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