HGPI

Human Genome Project Information Archive
1990–2003

Archive Site Provided for Historical Purposes


Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Human Genome Program

Human Genome News Archive Edition
go to list of issues »

Human Genome News, September 1994; 6(3):7

OHER Launches Microbial Genome Initiative

In a spin-off from the Human Genome Project, the DOE Office of Health and Environmental Research (OHER) is launching the Microbial Genome Initiative (MGI) to provide genome sequence and mapping data on selected microorganisms. MGI will focus on industrially important microbes and whose that live under extreme conditions, including the deep subsurface, geothermal environments, and toxic waste sites. OHER expects that information gained through this project will further the understanding of microbial phylogeny, physiology, and structural biology and help to exploit such industrial opportunities as the cleanup of process and environmental waste.

In MGI's first year, investigative groups will sequence the following organisms:

  • Pyrococcus furiosus, a marine hyperthermophile (optimum growth temperature 100 degrees C) with an A+T-rich genome of about 2 Mb [Robert Weiss (University of Utah)].
  • Methanococcus jannaschii, an extreme thermophile and marine barophilic methanogen with a 2-Mb A+T-rich genome [Craig Venter (The Institute for Genomic Research) and Carl Woese (University of Illinois)].
  • Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, a sewage sludge archaeon that grows optimally at 65 degree C and has a genome of about 1.7 Mb and a G+C content of 50%. Much of the bioconversion biochemistry of CO subscript 2 to CH subscript 4 is based on this archaeon [Doug Smith (Genome Therapeutics Corp.) and John Reeve (Ohio State University)].

HGMIS staff

Return to Table of Contents

The electronic form of the newsletter may be cited in the following style:
Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v6n3).

Human Genome Project 1990–2003

The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international 13-year effort, 1990 to 2003. Primary goals were to discover the complete set of human genes and make them accessible for further biological study, and determine the complete sequence of DNA bases in the human genome. See Timeline for more HGP history.

Human Genome News

Published from 1989 until 2002, this newsletter facilitated HGP communication, helped prevent duplication of research effort, and informed persons interested in genome research.