- about this project -

Brief project summary:

 

This site provides coordination for sequencing of the Medicago truncatula genome, including access to physical and genetic maps, molecular markers, BAC sequences, genome browsers, and annotation.

 

The Medicago truncatula sequencing project was initiated with a generous grant from Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation to the University of Oklahoma. Beginning in 2003, the National Science Foundation and the European Union's Sixth Framework Programme provided funding to complete sequencing of the remaining euchromatic genespace.

 

Six chromosomes are being sequenced by NSF project "Sequencing the Gene Space of the Model Legume, Medicago Truncatula," and two are being sequenced by partners in Europe.

 

A combination of cytogenetic and BAC sequence data show that the M. truncatula genome is organized into distinct gene-rich euchromatin separate from repeat-rich pericentromeric regions. Thus, the M. truncatula genespace can be efficiently sequenced using a BAC-by-BAC strategy. This map-anchored, high-quality sequence will be extremely valuable as a basis for genomic comparisons with other plant genomes, and as a foundation for improving many crop and forage legumes.

 

Nevin Young (University of Minnesota), Bruce Roe (ACGT, University of Oklahoma; chromosomes 1, 4, 6, 8), and Chris Town (JCVI; chromosomes 2, 7) are principal investigators of the U.S. project. In Europe, collaborators include Giles Oldroyd (John Innes Center) coordinating sequencing of chromosome 3 at the Sanger Center, and Frederic Deballe (INRA-CNRS) coordinating sequencing of chromosome 5 at Genoscope.

 

Genetic markers and maps were developed by collaboration between the University of California-Davis, the University of Minnesota, INRA-CNRS Toulouse France, and the Biological Research Center Institute of Genetics in Szeged Hungary. Cytogenetic analysis is underway at Wageningen University.

 

Project documents and information:

 

⇒ IMGAG: the International Medicago Genome Annotation Group.

 

⇒ Report of recent NSF-sponsored Workshop on Medicago Genomics and Informatics, Asilomar California, June 2005.

 

List of collaborators and participants

 

Poster describing the project.

 

Some nomenclature and standards:

 

Medicago BAC Finishing Standards

 

Annotation Conventions and IMGAG gene calls, including a white paper (a Word doc).

 

BAC clone nomenclature: nomenclature for NCBI submission

 

BAC clone nomenclature: NCBI registry