| HOME >> BIOLOGY >> TECHNOLOGY |
WALNUT CREEK, CA It is better to be looked over than overlooked, Mae West supposedly said. These are words of wisdom for genome data-miners of today. Data that goes unnoticed, despite its widespread availability, can reveal extraordinary insights to the discerning eye. Such is the case of a systematic analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI) of the massive backlog of microbial genome sequences from the public databases. The survey identified genes that kill the bacteria employed in the sequencing process and throw a microbial wrench in the works. It also offers a possible strategy for the discovery of new antibiotics. These findings are published in the Oct. 19 edition of the journal Science.
In nature, promiscuous microbes share genetic information so readily that using genes to infer their species position on the evolutionary tree of life was thought to be futile. Now, researchers at DOE JGI have characterized barriers to this gene transfer by identifying genes that kill the recipient bacterium upon transfer, regardless of the type of bacterial donor. These lethal genes also provide better reference points for building phylogenic treesthe means to verify evolutionary relationships between organisms.
At DOE JGI, we are responsible for producing and making publicly available genomes from hundreds of different microbes, most of which are relevant to advancing the frontiers of bioenergy, carbon cycling, and bioremediation, said Eddy Rubin, DOE JGI Director. We realized that sequencing a genome is like conducting a massive experiment in gene transfer. By checking which genes could not be sequenced, we discovered barriers to transfer.
The industrial-scale shotgun DNA sequencing strategy typically involves sheering the organisms DNA into manageable fragments, and then inserting these fragments into a disarmed strain of E. coli, which is used as an enrichment cultureto grow up vast amounts of the
'/>"/>
| Contact: David Gilbert degilbert@lbl.gov 925-296-5643 DOE/Joint Genome Institute Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology technology :
1. UW Condor project is a piece of CERNs massive grid computer
2. New BL21-CodonPlus Cells Correct Codon Bias in GC-Rich Genomes
3. WHOLE GENOME SEQUENCING
4. Protocol for GenomePlex Whole Genome Amplification from Buccal Swab
5. Protocol for GenomePlex Whole Genome Amplification from Blood Card
6. Protocol for GenomePlex Whole Genome Amplification from Plant
7. Protocol for GenomePlex Whole Genome Amplification from Soil
8. Protocol for GenomePlex Whole Genome Amplification from Whole Blood
9. Protocol for GenomePlex Whole Genome Amplification from Formalin-Fixed Parrafin-Embedded (FFPE) tissue
10. Bacterial Whole Genome Array Analysis
11. Cenix-Designed siRNAs for 95% of Human and Mouse Genomes
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |