The Biomphalaria glabrata Genome Project
The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) has selected Biomphalaria glabrata to be the subject of a genome sequencing project. Thus, B. glabrata is the first mollusc to be so selected, and even more generally, will provide additional needed information about the biology of the Lophotrochozoan clade of animal life. The Genome Sequencing Center at Washington University will take the lead in providing the sequence data.
Please refer to the B. glabrata genome initiative web site, maintained by Dr. Coen Adema, for additional details.
An informal document outlining some of the biological characteristics of Biomphalaria glabrata is provided. This document also mentions some of the tools available to study B. glabrata and its genome.
This lab participated directly in the preparation of the white paper submitted to NHGRI to request funding for a B. glabrata genome sequencing project.
This lab also participated in the preparation of the white paper submitted to NHGRI to request funding to prepare a B. glabrata BAC (bacterial artificial chromosomes) library, which will be an important tool in the genome sequencing project. A paper associated with the BAC project is now in press.
We sincerely thank NHGRI for their support of the B. glabrata genome and BAC projects, and the NIH for grants IP20RR18754 from the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Program of the National Center for Research Resources and AI24340 and AI44913 that enable many of the studies reported here.
Updated June 2006
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