Pig Genome Update No. 20angenmap@db.genome.iastate.eduSeptember 1, 1996 |
Tours was magnifique! The 25th International Society of Animal Genetics meeting in Tours, France was attended by over 500 individuals. These meetings highlighted recent advances in quantitative and molecular genetics. Several excellent plenary sessions were held and included topics on disease resistance, QTL discoveries, genetic diversity and uses of animal models. In addition, there was an abundance of workshops including those on blood groups in different species, QTL analyses, comparative gene mapping, gene mapping for many species, immune response, and genetic diversity. The pig gene mapping workshop was extremely well attended by nearly 90 individuals including a large group from the U.S. pig gene mappers. Physical and genetic linkage maps were updated and it appears that the combined genetic linkage map has over 1500 genes and markers. Highlights of the meeting included reports of a growing number of important regions of the genome that have a significant effect on economically important traits. A review of this work may be published in some form in the coming months. The pig gene mapping workshop committee for 1998 will include Alan Archibald (Scotland), Betram Brening (Germany), Denis Milan (France), Gary Rohrer (US), Chris Moran (Australia), Bhanu Chowdhary (Sweden) and Max Rothschild (US). Over 500 posters were presented. Several posters included new mapping results and evidence for QTL in pigs and other livestock. These QTL included those for litter size, ovulation rate, growth and carcass traits. Additional highlights of the meeting included one afternoon seeing local sights, an incredible gala dinner and first rate convention facilities. Our French hosts, INRA, the ISAG Society officers, and especially Dr. Guerin, should be congratulated on their efforts.
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The 88th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Animal Science and Western Section Meeting was held July 23-26 in Rapid City, South Dakota. There were about 2050 people who attended this meeting. Several papers were presented on gene identification, gene mapping and QTL mapping for pigs, cattle and sheep. These included a paper on four chemokine genes which are related to immune systems, TGFB-2, TGFB-3, IL-8 and MCP, and which were mapped to pig chromosomes 10, 7, 8 and 12 respectively. An integrated physical and genetic linkage map of swine chromosome 7 including 10 physical assignments was constructed using cosmids. Two QTL mapping papers were presented including results that PIT-1 was very close to a QTL for birth weight on pig chromosome 13 and that possible QTLs for ovulation rate were located on chromosomes 4, 8, 13, 14 and 15 using genomic scanning techniques. Several papers reported on methods of linkage phase evaluation and QTL detection. Abstracts are published and available for ASAS members on the web at http://www.asas.org/jas.html. (kindly provided by Dr. Lizhen Wang).
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Collaboration and cooperation were the themes of a recent small meeting involving university and USDA administrators, advisors, genome coordinators, and university and USDA-ARS scientists. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Neal Jorgensen, University of Wisconsin, and Dr. Dan Laster, USDA-ARS. Of primary concern was the continued improvement of the genome databases, but other topics included coordinator-sponsored activities and the renewal of the NRSP-8. If you are supportive of coordinator activities and NRSP-8, or have suggestions or concerns about improvement, please contact the individual coordinators or the new administrative advisor for NRSP-8, Dr. Colin Scanes, Iowa State University.
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The largest single porcine genetic linkage map was recently published (Genome Research 6:371-391) by Dr. Gary Rohrer and colleagues from the USDA-ARS MARC facility. The map includes 1116 genes and markers and this ties together many markers from previous maps. This is an extremely useful map and can be seen on the USDA WWW homepage and through the NAGRP Pig Genome homepage.
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Revisions of the North Central Regional Project NC-210 "Mapping the Pig Genome" are underway. A meeting was held in Tours during ISAG to get the organization started . Objectives were agreed upon and writing teams were formed. It was decided that we would meet on October 17-18 in Lincoln, Nebraska. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, 141 North 9th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508-9011, telephone: 402-475-4011 and fax: 402-475-9011. Rooms are held under the group name "NC-210" and can be reserved by calling 1-800-432-0002 until September 24. Rates are $56 for single and $61 for double, plus 9.5% tax. The Ramada Plaza Hotel operates a free shuttle van from the Lincoln airport. Upon arrival, use the courtesy phone to contact the hotel. Daniel Pomp will be providing transportation between the hotel and the Animal Science Department on the East Campus of the University of Nebraska, where the meeting will take place. Please notify Daniel Pomp (dpomp@unlinfo2.unl.edu) by September 25 if you plan to attend the meeting so that local arrangements can be finalized. We hope to see you there.
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More fluorescent primers for genotyping will soon be available! An additional 33 pairs of primers are now being synthesized. This will make a total 96 fluorescent primer pairs that are available from the U.S. Pig Genome Coordinator. Each primer pair is composed of one fluorescently labeled and one unlabeled primer. Information for these 33 pairs of primers was kindly supplied by Dr. Martien Groenen (Wageningen). If you wish to receive a new set or the entire set, please contact the U.S. Pig Coordinator directly.
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Got an idea to share resources? We are always looking for ideas from pig gene mappers. In the past, people have suggested sharing primers, DNA and information about databases and funds for travel. We already have accomplished many of these suggestions. Other ideas of services that can be provided as part of the coordination effort are under consideration. Your thoughts would be appreciated.
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Collaboration with the search for the RN gene is being sought.. Several INRA groups have been working on the RN gene for years. As you may know, the RN locus is associated with a meat quality trait in pigs. The main effect of the unfavorable (and dominant) RN- allele is a decrease of the technological yield during the process of ham cooking. Pascale Le Roy and co-workers (INRA Jouy) demonstrated that a major gene, RN, is responsible for the trait. It has been shown that RN phenotypes can be identified by analysis of muscular Glycolytic Potential. Denis Milan and co-workers (INRA Toulouse) mapped RN to pig chromosome 15 last year. This result has been confirmed by Leif Andersson's and Christian Looft's groups. The RN locus is presently mapped in a 7 cM interval. There is a project to develop new markers in the RN region and to also try to identify RN by a positional candidate gene approach. DNA samples of animals of various origins with known RN phenotypes are being collected and collaboration with the French groups is being sought. Anyone interested in collaborating, please contact Denis Milan & Pascale Le Roy, INRA, FRANCE at milan@toulouse.inra.fr or leroy@dga.jouy.inra.fr. Thank you.
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Plant and Animal Genome V ( PAGV) will be held January 12-16, 1997. The draft program for the Plant and Animal Genome V conference can be seen at: http://probe.nallusda.gov:8000. The location is the Town & Country Hotel, 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, CA 92108, Phone: 1-619-291-7131, or 1-800-772-8527, FAX: 1-619-291-3584. For 1997 the hotel room rate will be $75.00 per night (single or double occupancy) plus tax. The cost of registration for both the plant and animal sessions for PAGV will remain the same as for PGIV: $ 325.00 advance registration if postmarked by 15 November 1996 and $ 100.00 Student (Pre Ph.D) Registration. All registrations include one copy of the printed conference abstracts, Sunday-Thursday continental breakfasts, Sunday evening opening reception, Monday evening Wine & Cheese Reception, and Wednesday evening dinner. All administrative questions should be addressed to Darrin Scherago at Scherago International Inc., 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 1003, New York, NY 10001. The phone number is 212-643-1750 (FAX number is 212-643-1758) and the email address is pag5@scherago.com. Scherago International is the conference organizer for PAGV. Participants are invited to submit abstracts for the poster session by email. All abstracts will be reviewed. The abstract submission deadline is Monday, November 4, 1996. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated. Make your plans now to attend.
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A conference entitled "Allerton II: Genetic Analysis of Economically Important Traits in Livestock" will be held November 6-9, 1996 at Monticello, Illinois. The conference will provide a forum for discussion and analysis of the most up-to-date information on strategies for detection, isolation, and utilization of ETL in domestic animal species. For full conference information including program and on-line registration tune your web browser to: http://www.conted.ceps.uiuc.edu/allertonII/. Institutions interested in the receiving the satellite downlink of the Technology Transfer Session should contact Harris Lewin at h-lewin@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu.
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GDB Links to Mammalian Homology, Enzyme Function Data. Genome Database (GDB) has reestablished links from over 1500 GDB human gene entries to mammalian homology data within the Mouse Genome Database (MGD) and to over 400 enzyme entries within the ENZYME database. Both types of links are accessible from gene entries in GDB. Although its primary focus is the mouse, MGD=92s homology data also includes gene symbols, chromosomal locations, and citations regarding numerous mammalian species. Mammalian homology data can be accessed from GDB by querying for a specific human gene (e.g., SOD1) and following the homology link to the relevant MGD entry. ENZYME database entries include the reaction catalyzed, cofactors, links to the PROSITE database (protein sites and patterns), and detailed SWISS-PROT entries. ENZYME database links are from protein products rather than from gene entries themselves. For example, the enzyme link for the human SOD1 gene can be found by querying for this gene, choosing "Protein SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE" from the Gene SOD1 entry, and then selecting the "EC:1.15.1.1." link. (This note is reprinted from Human Genome News, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.)
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Upcoming meetings:
Allerton II, Genetic Analysis of Economically Important Traits in Livestock, Allerton Park, Illinois, November 1996, contact h-lewin@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu for details
Animal Genome Meeting (in conjunction with Plant and Animal Genome V), San Diego, Ca, January 12-15, 1997, see future Angenmap announcements for details
Gordon Conference on Quantitative Genetics, Ventura, Ca, February 9-14, 1997, contact M. Dentine at dentine@calshp.cals.wisc.edu
9th International Congress on Genes, Gene Families and Isozymes, San Antonio, TX , contact isozyme@darwin.sfbr.org for details
Contributions to Pig Genome Update 21 including short meeting announcements are always welcome. Please send by the 10th of October.[go to top]
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
cc: Dick Frahm, CSREES and Roger Gerrits, ARS
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