The Comparative Genomics Program
 at the Joint Genome Institute

Jeffrey L. Boore, Ph.D.
Group Leader in Comparative Genomics
at the DOE Joint Genome Institute and
Associate Adjunct Professor at the
University of California, Berkeley

Wednesday, October 24, 2001
3:00 p.m.–Pacific Forum

The Joint Genome Institute (JGI) produces over 600 million nucleotides of DNA sequence per month. With the finishing of the human genome sequence imminent, much of this capacity is being directed toward comparative genomics. Current genome targets include those of a pufferfish, a tunicate, a basidiomycete, and about 40 prokaryotes. The JGI Comparative Genomics Group is providing comparative analyses of these genomes, as well as leading smaller scale comparisons, providing training opportunities, and developing collaborations with outside researchers. We are also leading projects in comparing organelle genomes for phylogenetic inference, modeling genome evolution, and addressing questions of biogeography, conservation biology, and population structure. We are developing novel methods for rapidly isolating, cloning, and sequencing organelle genomes and are developing software for automating the annotation, manipulation, and presentation of this comparative data. I will present an overview of the research facility at the JGI, highlight particular projects that are ongoing, and outline opportunities for training and collaboration.

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