Plant, Animal & Microbe Genomes X Conference

January 12-16, 2002
Town & Country Convention Center
San Diego, CA

Poster: Other Genome Methodology
            

TRANSGENOMICS: NOVEL TECHNOLOGY FOR GENOMICS AND CROP IMPROVEMENT

¹ CAMBIA, Clunies Ross Street, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia

Transgenomics Initiative (TGI) is a program that concentrates on developing novel traits and agriculturally relevant characteristics where novel phenotypes are generated through changes in gene regulation. Transgenomics is a three-step process. First, we capture a large number of rice genomic regions using an Enhancer Trap system that employs a transcriptional activator to generate Transactivator Facilitated Enhancer Trap (TAFET) lines. Second, we insert into the rice genome a number of copies of an Upstream Activating Sequence (UAS) that is the target for binding by the Transactivator. Third, crosses between the TAFET lines and the UAS lines are expected to change expression patterns of a plant’s own genes resulting in Gain of Function mutations. The controlled manipulation of expression of practically any gene in rice offers an opportunity to develop and test specific hypotheses of linkages between gene expression and the resulting phenotype. Current stage of our Rice TGI will be reported, with a main emphasis on development and analysis of comprehensive population of TAFET and UAS lines.