2010 Project: Arabidopsis 2010: Transcriptomes for Functional and Evolutionary Studies

生命科学中的一个基本挑战是了解个体之间的遗传差异(DNA序列差异)如何导致特征的变化，例如动物的眼睛颜色或植物的作物产量。归根结底，个体之间的特征差异是由细胞产生的分子(例如，RNA和蛋白质分子)的种类或数量的差异造成的。在这个项目中，研究人员将产生一个资源来解决基本问题，即个体之间的DNA序列差异如何导致不同的RNA分子的产生，进而影响蛋白质类型、水平和整个有机体的特征。为了做到这一点，研究人员将利用新开发的技术，包括所谓的第二代DNA测序方法，以高成本高效的方式表征模式植物拟南芥19个不同品系的大多数RNA分子，并对其进行基因组测序。一般的结果将是了解遗传变异如何影响RNA水平，从而了解DNA差异如何导致特征差异。具体地说，该资源将使来自美国和世界各地的研究人员能够了解与下个世纪对农业至关重要的多种性状相关的基因调控。该项目将产生的序列数据资源将通过存放在美国国家生物技术中心的DNA序列数据库中向公众发布。这些数据的互联网链接以及对项目的描述将在犹他大学公共网站内的首席项目调查员的网站上提供。将为参与该项目的每一名本科生、研究生和博士后研究人员提供实践培训。该项目将使受训人员接触到在生物学中日益重要的先进生物技术和分析方法。

A basic challenge in the life sciences is to understand how genetic variation among individuals (DNA sequence differences) leads to variation in traits, for example, eye color in animals or crop yield in plants. Ultimately, trait differences among individuals result from differences in the kind or amount of molecules (for example, RNA and protein molecules) produced by cells. In this project, the investigators will generate a resource to address the fundamental question of how differences in DNA sequences among individuals lead to the production of different RNA molecules, which in turn affect protein types, levels, and whole-organism traits. To do this, the investigators will exploit newly developed technologies, including so-called 'second generation' DNA sequencing methods, to characterize in a highly cost effective manner the majority of RNA molecules from 19 diverse strains of the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, for which sequenced genomes are available. A general outcome will be an understanding of how genetic variation affects RNA levels, and hence how DNA differences lead to trait differences. Specifically, the resource will allow investigators from around the United States and the world to understand the regulation of genes relevant to a multitude of traits of critical importance for agriculture in the coming century. The resource of sequence data that will be generated by the project will be released publically via the deposition in the DNA sequence database of the USA National Center for Biotechnology. Internet links to these data, and a description of the project, will be available on website of the lead project investigator within the public University of Utah website. Hands-on training will be provided to each of the undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers involved in the project. The project will expose trainees to advanced biological technologies and analysis methods of ever increasing importance in biology.