Plant & Animal Genome VI Conference Plant & Animal Genome VI Conference
P15
Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Crop Biotechnology Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2123, USA
Large-insert, ordered DNA libraries are desirable genetic resources for modern genomics research. Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) represents a new system for large-insert DNA library construction. To enhance plant and animal genomics research, we have developed a BAC Center at Texas A&M University - the Texas A&M BAC Center (Web Page: http://BACserver.tamu.edu or http://cbc.tamu.edu). The functions of the BAC Center are to 1) develop and collect high-quality BAC libraries, 2) maintain, screen, and supply BAC libraries for genomics research world-wide, and 3) develop new technologies in use of the BAC libraries for enhanced genomics research. To meet the increasing needs of the community genomics research for BAC libraries, we have also developed a BAC Cloning Training and Library Construction Program, with a special emphasis on bringing your tissues in and taking your BAC library back. In 1997, we have developed ten new BAC libraries, eight of which were developed through the BAC Cloning Training and Library Construction Program. These ten new BAC libraries have been contributed to and are maintained in the Texas A&M BAC Center. Therefore, the Texas A&M BAC Center now has 17 BAC libraries of different plant and animal species. At least additional eight BAC libraries have been scheduled in development. The Texas A&M BAC Center is forwarding a genetic resource center collecting large-insert, ordered DNA libraries of most plants and animals of economical and biological importance. All BAC libraries maintained in the BAC Center will be continously made publicly available for the scientific community. We also welcome collaborative research in development of new BAC libraries. Reported will be the Texas A&M BAC Center, availability and applications of BAC libraries, the means to access to the BAC libraries in the BAC Center, and development of BAC libraries.