Maize Genetics Research Needs

[Michael D. McMullen]

Ed,

Comprehensive arrayed cDNA libraries, implies comprehensive cDNA resources,
maybe a cart-before-the-horse issue.

1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 14, 16 all need done, priority should be set by which
technologies are ready and cost-effective, not wishful thinking.

I don't see the point of #15 (one or more very large populations), IBM will
give the resolution of 900 individuals at the operating cost of 300.  If you
are going to fine-map it is in a population segregating for your trait of
interest.

Is #13 (SSRs) more about marketing and distribution then about development?

MIke

Ed Coe wrote:

>  To Maize Netters:
>  Before, during, and after the 1999 Maize Genetics Meeting in
>  Wisconsin, and at the Maize Forum 2000 in San Diego, an ad
>  hoc Maize Committee has requested and received information
>  about resource deficiencies that are limiting the
>  productivity of maize genetics research in the public
>  sector.  Our results indicate the following major needs, in
>  these approximate priority orders:
>
>  1.      Improved maize transformation capacity in the public
>          sector [for your information, an action plan is being
>          undertaken to bear this need to the Interagency Working
>          Group for Plant Genomics].
>
>  2.      Better expression profiling tools.
>
>  3.      Comprehensive arrayed cDNA libraries.
>
>  4.      Tissue specific and developmentally controllable
>          promoters.
>
>  5.      More community building activities, particularly for
>          attracting new scientists to maize genetics.
>
>  6.      Less emphasis on megagrants, more on individual
>          investigator awards.
>
>  7.      Improvements in the user-friendliness of MaizeDB.
>
>  8.      Better coordination of tool development for the community.
>
>  9.      Improved comparative data and bioinformatics, for the
>          grasses and between maize mapping populations.
>
>  10.     Fully accessible, appropriately redundant enhancer
>          traps, promoter traps, and knockouts systems in the public
>          sector for maize reverse genetics.
>
>  11.     Improved reverse genetics tools in other grass species
>          (e.g., rice) to allow comparisons to orthologous maize mutants.
>
>  12.     More complete and more accessible storage and
>          distribution of maize EST data and clones.
>
>  13.     More maize SSRs available inexpensively to all.
>
>  14.     Large mutagenized (small deletions, EMS, transposon
>          tagged) populations, in an inbred (B73) background.
>
>  15.     One or more very large (>2000 progeny) populations
>          mapped with all of the available RFLP, SSR, etc. markers
>          that can then be used for fine structure mapping by all
>          maize researchers.
>
>  16.     Proteome knowledge and research, expression,
>          polymorphism, and screening.
>
>  17.     Tools for comparing across different maize maps for QTL
>          work involving different markers for different maps, and
>          across species.
>
>  18.     Bulk purchasing of reagents needed by the maize genetics community.
>
>  How would you rate the priority of these needs, and any
>  others that you may wish to add?  Please reply to the maize
>  net, maize at net.bio.net, where bulletin-board communications
>  are appropriate.
>
>  Do you have any suggestions as to solutions for these
>  limitations?
>
>  At future Maize Genetics Conferences, floor discussions will
>  be carried out in greater depth, particularly as to how we
>  might bring about the improvements that we all feel are
>  needed.  Thank you for your time and assistance.
>
>  Sincerely,
>  Ed Coe and Jeff Bennetzen for the ad hoc Maize Committee.
>  ---

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