Plant & Animal Genomes XV Conference Plant & Animal Genomes XV ConferenceJanuary 13-17, 2007
Town & Country Convention Center
San Diego, CA
Todd C. Mockler , Scott Givan , Chris Sullivan , Rongkun Shen
Due to its small genome size, short life cycle, small stature, and other advantageous traits Brachypodium distachyon has emerged as a model grass. In this report we will summarize our efforts to develop community bioinformatics and genomics resources to complement the rich genomic information that will emerge from the Brachypodium genome sequencing project planned by DOE-JGI. These efforts include development of a Brachypodium community portal (http://www.brachypodium.org) and a genome database/browser. Establishing a public genome database and bioinformatics resources is a key objective for the development of a modern model system. Towards this goal, we are developing a new database, BrachyBase (http://www.brachybase.org), to provide public access to sequence data from the B. distachyon genome and EST sequencing projects. The initial version of BrachyBase uses the IRGSP/TIGR rice genome assemblies as a surrogate genome scaffold. BrachyBase will incorporate all available B. distachyon genome and transcriptome data from the DOE-JGI sequencing projects and other public data sources when those sequences become available. The design of the database anticipates the adoption of high-throughput genomics technologies such as high density DNA microarrays and emerging short-read sequencing technologies. BrachyBase will enable efficient exploitation of genome and transcriptome sequences to identify genes underlying traits and will facilitate comparisons with other grass genomes.