华大基因NEWSLETTER-2012-12-西瓜基因组

BGI Newsletter Subscribe / Unsubscribe News from BGI Spotlights in Genomics Research Highlight Contact BGI Newsletter Tel: +86 755 25283805 Email: bgi-newsletter@service.genomics.cn This E-mail was sent from BGI, If you do not wish to receive such communication, please click here to unsubscribe. December 2012 Volume 2 Issue 12 Spotlights in Genomics / News from BGI / Research Highlight www.genomics.cn Pig Genomes Provide Massive Amount of Genomic Data for Human Health The availability of a reference genome for a species is extremely important in the deeper understanding of its biology and evolution, and today marks the publication of two studies involving researchers from the BGI on the whole-genome sequencing, analysis and production of high quality reference genomes for the pig in the journals Nature and GigaScience (a BGI and BioMed Central journal).. More International Consortium Led By Chinese Scientists Crack Pear Genome, Providing New Insight into Breeding Improvement And Evolutionary Trace Analysis An international research team led by Nanjing Agricultural University and BGI, has completed the first genomic sequence of pear by an approach using the combination of BAC-by-BAC strategy and next-gen sequencing. The pear genome not only provides an invaluable new resource for breeding improvement of this important crop, but also sheds new light on the genome evolution and other genome-wide comparative studies. The results were published online in Genome Research. More The Preparatory Meeting of Sino European Life Science Association Successfully Conducted in Copenhagen Sino European Life Science Association (SELSA) successfully held the preparatory meeting in Carlsberg Akademi, Copenhagen, Denmark. At the conference, the association announced that its launch was dedicated to strengthen the scientific cooperation and innovation in life science between China and European countries. This meeting represents a kick-start of the establishment of SELSA. A formal inaugural ceremony will be held in the early of 2013. More Chinese Scientists Decode Watermelon Genome, Possible Future Benefits for Crop improvement An international team led by Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, BGI, and other institutes has completed the genomic sequence of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and the resequencing of 20 watermelon accessions. The genomic data presented in this study will shape future efforts on watermelon genetics and evolutionary research, and also provide an invaluable resource for other plants research and crop genetic improvement. The results were published online in Nature Genetics. More Big Genomics Data, Big Scientific Impact: New Challenges for Further Development of Life Science BGI announced its latest advances in the analysis, management and dissemination of “Big Genomics Data” at their 3rd bioinformatics software and data release conference. Released at the conference include new bioinformatics analysis pipelines and software, including SOAPhecate v2.5 and SOAPgaea, as well as an updated version of EasyGenomics, one cloud-based bioinformatics solution. Additionally, BGI’s big-data journal GigaScience also provided an update on its integrated GigaDB database and reported on plans for its data analysis platform based on the Galaxy workflow system. More BGI’s 7th International Conference on Genomics and Bio-IT APAC 2012 Provides Updates on the Latest Genomics Technologies to Advance Life Science The 7th International Conference on Genomics and Bio-IT APAC 2012, organized by BG successfully concluded with numerous updates on on-going research applying today's latest sequencing and bioinformatics technologies to a new paradigm of human diseases and to enhancing global agriculture development. The three-day conference, held in Hong Kong, also brought new insights into Bio-cloud and big data management. More BGI-Shenzhen Extends Tender Offer For Complete Genomics, Inc. BGI-Shenzhen ("BGI") announced that it, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Beta Acquisition Corporation, has extended its all cash tender offer (the "Offer") to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock of Complete Genomics, Inc. (GNOM) ("Complete") to 12:00 midnight (New York City time) on Friday, December 14, 2012. The Offer was previously scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight (New York City time) on Wednesday, November 21, 2012. More China (Mainland) BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, 518083, China Tel: 400-706-6615 +86-755-2527-3620 Email: tech@genomics.cn www.genomics.cn Asia Pacific（Hong Kong） BGI Hong Kong Co. Limited, 16th Dai Fu Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, Hong Kong Tel: +852-3610-3510 Email: bgihk.enquiry@genomics.org.cn www.bgisequence.com/hk North America (Boston) BGI Americas Corporation, One Broadway, 14th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA Tel: +1-617-500-2741 Email: info@bgiamericas.com www.bgiamericas.com www.bgisequence.com/us Europe (Copenhagen) BGI Europe, Copenhagen Bio Science Park, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark Tel: (+45) 70260806 Email: bgieurope@genomics.cn www.bgisequence.com Japan(Kobe) BGI Japan, Kobe KIMEC Center BLDG. 8F, 1-5-2 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, KobeCity, Hyogo-pref. 650-0047, JAPAN Tel: +81-78-599-6108 Email: bgijapan@genomics.cn www.bgisequence.com/jp/ Coming Up Events Hosted by BGI ISCB-Asia/SCCG 2012 December 17–December 19th, 2012, Shenzhen, China Learn More The 6th AYRCOB 2012 December 20-December 21th, 2012, Shenzhen, China Learn More PAG Asia 2013 March 17-19th, 2013, Singapore Learn More HGM 2013 and 21st International Congress of Genetics April 13-18th, 2013, Singapore Learn More www.genomics.cnSubscribe / Unsubscribe Watermelon Genome Decoded: Possible Future Benefits for Crop improvement Image source: http://www.asianscientist.com/zh/content_20120709i/ Microbe 1. Epigenetics Armed German E. coli More 2. The Plastic Genome More 3. Key Pathological Mechanism Found in Plague Bacterium More 4. Genome of the Black Death Reveals Evidence for an Antique Bubonic Plague Pandemic More 5. Deciphering Bacterial Doomsday Decisions More 6. Rare Parasitic Fungi Could Have Anti-Flammatory Benefits More 7. Sources of E. coli are Not Always What They Seem More Human Health & Medicine 1. Research Shows Iron's Importance in Infection, Suggests New Therapies More 2. Researchers Make Breakthrough in Arthritis Research More 3. Researchers Discover How the Deadly Malaria Parasite Evades the Immune System, Make Progress Toward Developing a Cure More 4. Largest Coronary Artery Disease Study Shows Evidence of Link between Inflammation and Heart Disease More 5. Genome-Scale Study ID's Hundreds of Drug Targets for Huntington's More 6. Can Worms Alleviate Autism? More 7. Mechanism for the Transformation of Colon Polyps More 8. Possible Road Map for Improving Healthcare More Pharma & Biotech 1. New Target for Alzheimer's Drug Development More 2. Prostate Cancer Drug Shows Promise in Triple-Negative and Estrogen-Positive Breast Cancer More 3. Lei Xie: Changing Approaches in Drug Development More 4. Common Diabetes Drug May Treat Ovarian Cancer More 5. Architecture Reveals Genome's Secrets More 6. Biobank Yields Results More 7. High on High Content More 8. New Guideline for DNA Sequences Could Prevent Erroneous Data More Plants & Animals 1. No Sex Required More 2. Camel Genome More 3. Guineafowl May Spread, Not Halt, Fever-Bearing Ticks in Turkey More 4. For Some Feathered Dinosaurs, Bigger Not Always Better More 5. Corn: Many Active Genes -- High Yield More 6. Major Breakthrough in Deciphering Bread Wheat's Genetic Code More 7. Scientists Sniff out the Substances behind the Aroma in the 'King of Fruits' More 8. Upon Further Review, Giant Sequoia Tops a Neighbor More Watermelon is an important cucurbit crop and one of the most important fruits. It is favored for the sweet, low calorie, high fiber, and nutrient rich characters. However, cultivated watermelons have a very narrow genetic base, which presents a major bottleneck to its breeding. Decoding the complete genome of the watermelon and resequencing watermelons from different subspecies provided a wealth of information and toolkits to accelerate watermelon breeding toward production of a more nutritious, tastier and more resistant fruit. ★ ★ ★ ★ Comparative genomics analysis provided an evolutionary scenario for the origin of the eleven watermelon chromosomes, derived from a seven-chromosome paleohexaploid eudicot ancestor. Resequencing of 20 watermelon accessions representing three different C. lanatus subspecies produced numerous haplotypes and revealed the extent of genetic diversity and population structure of watermelon germplasm. Integrative genomic and transcriptomic analyses yielded important insights into aspects of phloem-based vascular signalling held in common between watermelon and cucumber, and identified genes critical to valuable fruit quality traits, including sugar accumulation and citrulline metabolism. Strong evidence to support the hypothesis that a large portion of disease resistance genes were lost in the domestication of watermelon. Highlighted Findings: Shaogui Guo, Jianguo Zhang, et al. The draft genome of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and resequencing of 20 diverse accessions, Nature Genetics, 2012, doi:10.1038/ng.2470