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

生命科学的一个基本挑战是理解个体之间的遗传变异（DNA序列差异）如何导致性状的变异，例如动物的眼睛颜色或植物的作物产量。最终，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个体之间DNA序列的差异如何导致不同RNA分子的产生，从而影响蛋白质类型、水平和整个生物体的特征。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，以一种高成本效益的方式表征来自模式植物拟南芥19个不同菌株的大多数RNA分子，这些菌株的基因组测序是可用的。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差异如何导致性状差异。具体来说，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众多特征相关的基因调控。项目产生的序列数据资源将通过美国国家生物技术中心DNA序列数据库的存储公开发布。这些数据的互联网链接，以及项目的描述，将在犹他州公立大学网站上的项目负责人的网站上提供。参与该项目的本科生、研究生和博士后研究人员将接受实际操作培训。该项目将使学员接触到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.