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Pig Genome Newsletter #007
PIG GENOME UPDATE No. 7
July 1, 1994
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USPIGBASE now is on World Wide Web (WWW). As part of the pig genome
coordination efforts supported by the National Animal Genome Research Program,
a WWW server has been established at Iowa State University to support the Pig
Gene Mapping Effort. The WWW server makes hypertext files including graphic
images available for easy access by anyone with internet access. You can get
information or browse through the various resources with a simple point and
click interface with the mouse on your computer. The URL, Universal Resource
Locator, or "address" for this new information source is:
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~pigmap. Not only will this address provide a
convenient gateway to USPIGBASE, it will also allow the presentation of
graphics and documents germane to pig gene mapping, e-mail addresses of
colleagues, upcoming meeting announcements, and pointers to other genome
related databases. WWW is comparable to both WAIS and Gopher, in that it is a
client server information system running over the internet. The WWW system has
an open addressing scheme allowing links to be made to any objects on WWW,
WAIS, Gopher, FTP, NFS, or Network News servers.
Access via WWW will allow users to obtain the following pieces of information:
Coordinator Update, addresses of pig gene mappers, genome newsletters including
Pig Genome Update and the NAPGR newsletter, information on angenmap, meeting
schedule, available microsatellite markers, USPIGBASE access, USDA/ARS gene
mapping information, international pig gene mapping information, other
databases and finally a whole set of interesting graphics. More can be added so
just let us know what might be useful.
How to get started? The best way to access information on WWW is to use TCP/IP
access to the internet and client software like Mosaic, Cello or Samba
installed on your computer equipment. It is not possible for me to describe all
the details involved in setting up all the various types of equipment that you
might be using. The good news is that usually the needed software is available
for a minimal or no cost. Mosaic can be obtained from Anonymous FTP from
ftp.NCSA.uiuc.edu. Mosaic software is available for the X Window System, the
Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows. Cello runs under Microsoft Windows
systems and Samba runs under the Apple Macintosh system. Still other software
is available for other systems and connections. Contact your computer
specialist for assistance. Once you start accessing information through these
technologies, you will wonder how you ever functioned without them!
Production of microsatellite primers has really been booming. We have reached
our goal of production of primer pairs for 150 microsatellites. These are
available in 5000 picamole aliquots in tubes with easy to read labels. I again
want to thank Joan Lunney, Deryl Troyer and Brian Kirkpatrick for their
excellent help in selecting the markers. To get them please send me a note or
an e-mail request.
An excellent meeting on Future Genetics in the Livestock Industry was held on
May 4 in St. Louis with over 110 attendees. The meeting had talks on molecular
genetics, gene mapping, QTL discovery, disease resistance and industry
interactions. That evening I met with about 20 people from industry and
academia. We had a very useful discussion on setting up pig industry QTL
families. All the genome coordinators attended and the coordination effort of
all species is moving smoothly.
In the past two weeks I have attended several interesting meetings. The NC-206,
Genetic Regulation of Pork Production, met in Ohio and discussed revising their
project. They concluded that there is a real need for them to be involved in
QTL projects and they plan an objective in this area. The second meeting was a
National Animal Genome Workshop held in Winnepeg, Canada. Craig Beattie and I
were speakers at the workshop which was devoted to developing a national plan
in Canada for coordinating animal genome research. There was a great deal of
interest in linking up in the future with NRSP-8.
Fill in your calendar now for the upcoming NAGRP meeting. In conjunction with
NC-209, the swine genome committee (NC-210) and the sheep and cattle genome
committees, NAGRP will be meeting in Minneapolis at the Radisson Hotel
Metrodome. The tentative schedule is for the swine gene mapping committee
(NC-210) and the other species committees to be meeting on Thursday, September
22, 1994 and the NAGRP meeting will be held on Friday the 23rd of September. A
reminder that all stations will need to submit a written annual report. There
may be additional plans related to the meeting and those will be published in a
later Pig Genome Update.
A workshop for chromosome 6 is being planned by C. Louis, University of
Minnesota. Details for the conference are provided by Dr. Louis in the attached
materials prepared by him. If you are interested in receiving partial funding
to attend this conference please contact me for details.
Project ideas for gene mapping which fit the goals of the genome coordination
are always welcome. Funding will depend on the usefulness, cost and budget
availability, and the applicability to all swine genome committee members. I
have reviewed several ideas and plan to fund a number of them. If you have an
idea, please send me complete information and who will be involved.
Please note that I will no longer be using my 294-3629 phone number. I can be
reached at 515-294-6202. This summer I will be leaving my half time job as
Assistant Director in the Iowa Agriculture Experiment Station to return to the
Animal Science faculty full time. While the last 4 years have been fun I have
planned this move for some time and it should give me more time for the
coordination efforts and my research.
Contributions to Pig Genome Update 8 are always welcome. Please send by the
20th of August.
Hope to see many of you at the meetings in Minneapolis, Prague or Guelph.
Max F. Rothschild
National Pig Genome Coordinator
225 Kildee Hall
Department of Animal Science
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011
Phone: 515-294-6202
Fax: 515-294-2401
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