The journal Science has published the recently completed 200-million base-pair genome sequence of the water flea, Daphnia pulex. The DNA code is the largest number of genes ever recorded for a multicellular animal (more than in the human genome!), and one-third are of unknown function. Chris Detter of the Laboratory’s Genome Science and leader of…
DOE JGI’s Community Sequencing Program Project Call in GenomeWeb
The Department of Energy’s Joint Genome Institute said today that it is now accepting letters of intent from researchers seeking to use the genomics technologies available through its Community Sequencing Program (CSP). JGI’s sequencing program provides the scientific community with access to a range of high-throughput technologies for use in large-scale sequence-based genomic projects that…
Roberts Wesleyan College part of DOE JGI Undergraduate Research Program in Microbial Genome Annotation
The U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (JGI) has chosen Dr. David Roll, professor of biological chemistry and director of Forensic Science at Roberts Wesleyan College, as one of 18 collaborators nationwide to join its Undergraduate Research Program in Microbial Genome Annotation, the College announced today. Read more at the Roberts Wesleyan College news…
Jonathan Eisen named 2011 Benjamin Franklin Laureate
Jonathan Eisen, a renowned open access advocate is awarded the tenth annual Benjamin Franklin award. This award, voted for by members of Bioinformatics.org, recognizes those providing free and open access to materials and methods in science. More information here.
Phil Hugenholtz on metagenomics and ecogenomics in Australian Life Scientist
In research published in Nature in 2007, Hugenholtz, along with collaborators from the California Institute of Technology and Diversa (now Verenium) Corporation, used metagenomics to detail the process by which a dry wood feeding termite, a Nasutitermes species, breaks down cellulose. They generated 62 million base pairs – a “drop in the ocean by today’s…
UCLA team makes isobutanol from cellulose on ScienceDaily
While there were many possible microbial candidates, the research team ultimately chose Clostridium cellulolyticum, which was originally isolated from decayed grass. The researchers noted that their strategy exploits the host’s natural cellulolytic activity and the amino acid biosynthetic pathway and diverts its intermediates to produce higher alcohol than ethanol. The researchers also noted that Clostridium…
Around this time, Dey-Rao suggested that the department become involved in educational programs offered through the Department of Energy’s Joint Genome Institute (JGI). In looking into these programs, Kostyniak concluded that they would be a good fit for university-level courses, as well as for high school courses aimed at stimulating students’ interest in science careers….
DOE JGI’s microbial work and IMG on ESNet’s Network Matters
Microbes are single-cell organisms that live in colonies and can be found in nearly every corner of our planet, in places ranging from insects’ intestines to some of the most toxic chemical environments. The site for the most detailed information on the genetic makeup of these organisms only lives in one place – at the…
DOE JGI Highlight: First genome of a Harmful Algal Bloom species
Algae play key roles in the global carbon cycle, helping trap carbon emissions. But some algal species can bloom, discoloring coastal waters and reduce the amount of light and oxygen available in the ecosystem. To describe these events, the term “harmful algal blooms” (HABs) was introduced two decades ago to note that accumulation of algal…
Aureococcus genome project in Sify News
Algae play key roles in the global carbon cycle, sometimes helping sequester significant amounts of carbon but can also turn the ocean waters brown or green and disrupt an ecosystem. When billions of Aureococcus cells come together, they outcompete the other marine phytoplankton in the area, damaging the food chains in marine ecosystems as well…