Potentials of the National Corn Genome Initiative
Abstract
The present paper summarizes future needs in information and tools, technology, infrastructure, training, funding, and bioinformatics, to provide the genomic knowledge and tools for breeding and biotechnological goals in maize. The National Corn Genome Initiative (NCGA) has developed through actions taken by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and participation in a planning process by institutions, companies, and organizations. At the web address for the NCGI, http://www.inverizon.com/ncgi, are detailed analyses of goals and costs, impact and value, and strategy and approaches. The NCGI has also produced an informative and perceptive video suitable for public groups or schools, about agricultural contributions to life and the place of maize in these contributions. High potential can be expected, from cross-application of knowledge obtained in maize and other cereals. Development of information and tools for all crops, whether monocots or dicots, will be gained through an initiative, and each crop will be positioned to advance with cost-effective parallels, especially for expressed sequences, markers, and physical mapping.
Footnotes
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↵ * To whom reprint requests should be addressed at: USDA/ARS/PGRU, 210 Curtis Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7020. e-mail: ed{at}teosinte.agron.missouri.edu.
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This paper was presented at a colloquium entitled “Protecting Our Food Supply: The Value of Plant Genome Initiatives,” organized by Michael Freeling and Ronald L. Phillips, held June 2–5, 1997, sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center in Irvine, CA.
- ABBREVIATIONS:
- cDNA,
- DNA complementary to messenger RNA;
- EST,
- expressed sequence tag;
- NCGA,
- National Corn Growers Association;
- NCGI,
- National Corn Genome Initiative
- Copyright © 1998, The National Academy of Sciences
