Pig Genome Update No. 11angenmap@db.genome.iastate.eduMarch 1, 1995 |
Ideas, exciting new progress and discoveries were the themes of several recent meetings. These included the NCR-21 Quantitative genetics meeting, the Gordon Conference on Quantitative and Molecular Genetics and the annual AAAS meeting. At NCR-21, 21 individuals from 15 groups in the U.S. and Canada discussed projects that dealt with quantitative genetics and its interface with molecular genetics for both plants and animals. Some very interesting work on transgenes and QTL analysis were presented. NCR-21 is one of the oldest regional research committees in the U.S.
The Gordon Conference on Quantitative Genetics and Biotechnology met for five days in Ventura, CA and attracted 130 individuals from the fields of animal, including human, and plant quantitative genetics. Several areas were covered. In QTL mapping theory, Zhaobang Zeng and Ritsert Jansen presented new methods which extend beyond interval mapping. Computer software for these new approaches is available from Zhaobang Zeng. Evidence of mapping progress in trees was presented by Ronald Sederoff. Pat Schnable demonstrated some fine-mapping and compared differences in recombination rate and their relationship to physical distances in maize. The second day was devoted to human genetics and featured Robert Cloninger on some very interesting investigations into alcoholism and several other personality disorders. Elizabeth Thompson discussed new statistical approaches to evaluate human genetic data. Talks concerning quantitative genetics included Daniel Pomp who discussed QTL in mice for growth traits. William Dietrich discussed the use of genetic maps to discover disease genes in mice and Max Rothschild discussed additional developments about a major gene for litter size in pigs which accounts for about 1 additional pig born per gene copy. In plants, Torbert Rocheford demonstrated some exciting work with QTL in maize for a variety of traits. Marlin Edwards presented information on use of RFLPs to improve sweet corn. Also John Dobley presented results on QTL mapping in maize and one of its ancestors. New developments in yeast genetics and how they might impact other genome research was presented by Ronald Davis. In the developmental genetics section Ben Bowen presented an excellent discussion on effector and regulatory genes and new approaches to discover quantitative genes. Trudy Mackay presented some very interesting results on candidate genes and bristle number in fruit flies. The last talk by Andrew Clark concerned epistasis in fruit flies. In all it was an excellent meeting!
[go to top]The American Association for the Advancement of Science in Atlanta, GA featured five speakers on the subject of Diversity and Molecular Genetics in Animal - Science, Policy and Society. The symposium was developed by Theron Rumsey (USDA) and Bob Zimbelman (ASAS). David Notter (VPI) discussed aspects of genetic diversity and livestock conservation. Max Rothschild spoke on gene mapping and marker assisted selection and Joan Lunney discussed selection for disease resistance. The last two speakers, Gary Ziehe (U.S. Senate Staffer) and Jim Lauderdale (Upjohn Co.) discussed policy issues and societal issues related to molecular genetic research and their use. If you have interest in any information from these meetings please feel free to contact me.
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Your input is important. We are now making the next round of microsatellites from those that have been published over the past six months. Choosing them is an important function and your input is important. We are choosing markers that fill in the spaces and the ends of the chromosomes. The maps are in the PIGBASE MANAGERs. By using the WWW address of http://www.genome.iastate.edu you can see those. If you have ideas please send them along. Remember we are choosing markers to benefit all labs. This year our goal will be to produce another 125 markers to reach a total of 300 microsatellite markers for gene mapping and QTL research.
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Additions to the database continue. Since the last Pig Genome Update several new changes have occurred with the database. The PIGBASE map manager now includes information on the genetic linkage map published by Ellegren et al. 1994 in Genetics 137:1089-1100. When asking for the linkage map be sure to choose which of the three maps (PiGMaP, USDA, or Uppsala) you wish to view. In addition to the sex averaged maps which have been available, now sex-specific maps will be available to examine.
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Database travel between the different home pages on WWW have now been made easier. Now if you connect with the U.S. Pig Genome home page (http://www.genome.iastate.edu) you will notice that there is a place to transfer to the U.S. Chicken genome home page. Likewise if you connect with the U.S. Chicken Genome home page you will notice that you can click from there to the U.S. Pig Genome home page. Also within the U.S. Pig genome home page is access to many different gene mapping databases.
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We are continuing our efforts to provide information from the other mapping efforts. SheepBase, an informational database that includes mapped loci in sheep, will soon be available on-line through Internet and WWW. An editorial committee for SheepBase has been established and includes Grant Montgomery, Tom Broad (both with AgResearch, New Zealand), Frank Nicholas (University of Sydney, Australia) and Noelle Cockett (Utah State University, U.S.). The editorial committee will make policy decisions on the reference and mapping data held in the database, compile the integrated genetic map and decide on directions for SheepBase. The committee will also review new data on a regular basis. In summarizing the ovine genome map as of June, 1994, 235 loci have been mapped to 24 of the 26 autosomal chromosomes and both sex chromosomes. There have been no assignments for chromosomes 16 and 26. Of these assignments, 64 loci were mapped using in-situ hybridization, 106 loci using somatic cell hybrids and 91 loci using linkage analysis in ovine families. (kindly provided by Noelle Cockett).
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A list of publications associated with gene mapping and gene identification are routinely made available on Angenmap thanks to Dr. Lyman Crittenden. About every month he sends a list out of recent publications. You can use the search feature on our home page for Angenmap to retrieve old lists.
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Publications of recent interest include the NAGRP Newsletter that Harris Lewin edits and is published from the University of Illinois. If you want a copy please contact him. A Genetic Nomenclature Guide, including information on genomic databases has been published by Trends in Genetics. It has both plant and animal information. Of interest also is a nice extension publication on pig gene mapping produced by the University of Minnesota. Authored by Larry Schook, the publication is designed as an introduction on gene mapping for students and the public and is available for $2 from the Univ. of MN.
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Upcoming Meeting dates for 1995 include the following:
American Society of Animal Science & American Dairy Science Association Midwest Meetings, April 10-12 Biotechnology's Role in the Genetic Improvement of Farm Animals, Beltsville, MD, May 14-17, 1995
If you have a meeting to announce please send details! Thanks.
Contributions to Pig Genome Update 12 are welcome. Please send by the 15th of April.
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Max Rothschild
U.S. Pig Genome Coordinator
2255 Kildee Hall, Department of Animal Science
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011
Phone: 515-294-6202, Fax: 515-294-2401
mfrothsc@iastate.edu
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