BIOINFORMATICS FOR COMPARATIVE GENOMICS IN FARMED AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS

Roslin Institute, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS, Scotland, UK

We are developing databases and other bioinformatics resources to underpin research concerned with comparative genomics in farmed and domestic animals. Our current activities include - 1. Implementation of the ARKdb model for public domain genome databases for increasing numbers of species. ARKdb has been implemented for pigs, chickens, sheep, cattle, horses, cats, Tilapia and turkeys. 2. Recording links between homologous genes in different vertebrate species and the supporting evidence in The Comparative Animal Genome database. 3. Developing Artificial Intelligence approaches to test for homology between genes in different species. Our current approach combines sequence comparisons and information on neighbouring genes (i.e. relative map location). 4. Developing software architectures that allow users to access data held in a variety of disparate databases. We have developed a prototype system using the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA). 5. We are addressing issues of comparative genomics within species through a database to support genetic diversity research. These resources are accessible on the World Wide Web (http://www.ri.bbsrc.ac.uk/bioinformatics/) at the Roslin Institute. Some of the genome databases are also mounted on ARKdb nodes in New Zealand (AgResearch, Invermey) and the USA (Texas A&M, Iowa State Universities).