Grass Genome Biodiversity: Application of Genomic Tools from Sorghum and Related Grasses to Identify and Analyze Variation in Structure and Function of C4 Grass Genomes

作为一种牧草基因组模式，高粱基因组(~760Mb)是对水稻基因组(~420Mb)最合理的补充，水稻是一个远亲，将是第一个被完全测序的牧草基因组。高粱是通向与本族(雄配子亚科)紧密相关的大基因组作物的重要桥梁，如玉米(~2500 Mb)和甘蔗(~2500-4200 Mb)。分析高粱、甘蔗、水稻和玉米(以及其他作物)内部和之间的基因组多样性水平和格局有助于加深对禾本科谷物和生物质作物生物学和进化的理解，并为它们的改良创造新的机会。来自水稻的数据和工具将有助于完成一个强大的高粱物理图谱，也是识别和洞察基因组多样性基础的重要比较点。比较工具将有助于将这些结果推广到百慕大草和谷子等被忽视的作物，以及像约翰逊草这样的有害杂草。可交付成果包括高粱物理图谱，该图谱将支持高粱和通过比较数据与高粱配对的其他基因组中的单个基因分离和/或完整测序。物理地图还将把遗传、比较、细胞分子和多样性数据整合到一个丰富的网络可访问资源中，以识别和研究与植物进化和作物改良相关的选择的“足迹”。高粱和甘蔗EST的比较具有深远的重要性，它揭示了区分谷物和维持人类生存的生物质作物的基因。研究与强有力的培训和推广计划密切相关，这些计划成功地吸引了科学界代表性不足的群体，以及K-12学生和本科生。

As a grass genome model, the Sorghum genome (~760 Mb) is the most logical complement to that of rice (~420 Mb), a distant relative that will be the first grass genome to be completely sequenced. Sorghum is an important bridge to closely-related large-genome crops in its own tribe (Andropogoneae) such as maize (~2500 Mb) and sugarcane (~2500-4200 Mb). Analysis of the levels and patterns of genomic diversity within and between sorghum, sugarcane, rice, and maize (and others) promises to advance understanding of the biology and evolution of Poaceae grain and biomass crops, and create new opportunities for their improvement. Data and tools from rice will aid in completion of a robust sorghum physical map and also serve as an important point of comparison to identify, and gain insights into, the basis of genomic diversity. Comparative tools will foster the extension of these results to neglected crops such as Bermuda grass and millet, and to noxious weeds such as 'Johnson grass.' Deliverables include a sorghum physical map that will support individual gene isolation and/or complete sequencing in sorghum and other genomes aligned to sorghum by comparative data. The physical map will also integrate genetic, comparative, cyto-molecular and diversity data into a rich Web-accessible resource to identify and study the 'footprints' of selection associated with plant evolution and crop improvement. A sorghum-sugarcane EST comparison is of far-reaching importance, shedding light on genes that differentiate grain and biomass crops that sustain humanity. Research is closely-tied to strong training and outreach programs with a successful history of engaging groups under-represented in the sciences, as well as K-12 students and undergraduates.