BIOINFORMATICS RESOURCES FOR GENOME ANALYSIS IN FARM ANIMALS

Roslin Institite (Edinburgh) Roslin Midlothian EH25 9PS Scotland, U.K.

The Bioinformatics group at the Roslin Institute is developing bioinformatics tools and resources for scientists engaged in genome analysis in farmed and domestic animals. The resources developed encompass both the databases and the associated analytical and display tools required for genetic and physical mapping of the complex genomes of farm animals. The World Wide Web (WWW) are used to deliver the resources to this user community. The ARKdb genome database: We have developed a genome database model (ARKdb) to handle genome mapping data. The ARKdb database model has now been fully implemented for pigs, chickens, sheep, cattle, Tilapia, horses, cats, turkey and deer genome data. The databases are mounted on the primary node at the Roslin Institute () and subsets are also mounted on nodes in New Zealand and at Texas A&M University and Iowa State University in the United States. The Comparative Animal genome database (TCAGdb): We have also developed a comparative genome database - The Comparative Animal Genome database (TCAGdb) to capture statement that specific pairs of genes are homologous. We are developing automated methods using Artificial Intelligence to evaluate homology data. Genetic diversity: We have developed a database for genetic diversity data for cattle and are currently implementing this model for data from other domesticated animals. Linkage and QTL databases: We have also developed and operate resource databases to handle raw experimental data for linkage mapping in animals. This resSpecies database also handles trait / performance data and can be used for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping experiments. Future: We are refining our database system in order to allow interoperability with other data sources. We have developed a CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) prototype of our ARKdb database.