DOE JGI Announces 2009 Genome Sequencing Plans

The U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (JGI) has announced the DNA sequencing projects that its Community Sequencing Program (CSP) will support in 2009. JGI estimates that 60 million nucleotides of data, roughly the equivalent of 20 human genomes, will be obtained from the 44 sequencing projects.

Researchers will be looking at the genome of the Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) for genes that could be used to improve the pine as a biofuel feedstock, carbon sequestration tool and source of renewable materials for lumber and pulp fiber. JGI will also zero-in on the duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) genome. Duckweed can be used as a recombinant protein bio-factory, toxicity testing organism, animal feed and waste water remediator.

Other JGI sequencing projects include cotton, lignin-degrading fungus, oil producing microalgae, E. coli and several cellulose degrading bacteria among many others. “The scientific and technological advances enabled by the information that we generate from these selections promise to take us faster and further down the path towards clean, renewable transportation fuels while affording us a more comprehensive understanding of the global carbon cycle”, said Eddy Rubin DOE JGI Director.

The complete article is available at http://www.jgi.doe.gov/News/news_7_2_08.html For the complete list of CSP 2009 sequencing projects, visit http://www.jgi.doe.gov/sequencing/cspseqplans2009.html