We are approaching the submission deadline for the DSRG 2000 study. If you
have requested and received materials to participate in this study please
send us your sequencing results and/or purified BAC template no later than
January 31, 2000. Note that the submission deadline for part 2 has been
extended to January 31. Information concerning the study and how to
participate can be found in an earlier message which is attached below:
The purpose of this message is to remind you to participate in the DNA
Sequencing Research Group's (DSRG) 2000 Study. In this two-part study we will
focus on factors that affect the accuracy and quality of sequence when
Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes (BACs) are used as the sequencing template.
This study is being conducted with a view towards establishing official DSRG
recommended methods. Since the large scale production of BACs is more
problematic than that of standard plasmid templates we will not be able to
send
the sample materials out in a mass mailing as we have done in the past (e.g.
Standard and Difficult Template Studies). In order to participate in this
study
it will be necessary to request materials in advance.
Part 1 of the study will concentrate on the operational steps directly related
to the sequencing of BACs. The DSRG will provide all registered participants
with a sample of a standard BAC and an appropriate primer. Participants will
then sequence the standard BAC using the primer provided and the methods
developed in their respective labs. We request that they send us the sample
file electronically, in either .scf or .abi format, and a completed web form
concerning the methodologies used to produce the sequence. The sequencing data
will be analyzed and compared with the information available on the web form
with a view towards identifying methods that correlate well with high quality
sequence. Preliminary results will be presented at ABRF 2000.
Part 2 of this study will concentrate on the operational steps relating to the
isolation of BAC templates for use in sequencing. The DSRG will provide all
registered participants with an agarose stab of bacteria containing the
standard BAC. Participants will then grow up the bacteria and isolate the BAC
by the methodologies utilized in their respective laboratories. We request
that
they send the purified BAC to us for sequencing along with a completed web
form
concerning the methods used in the isolation of this material. The sequencing
results will be analyzed and compared with the information available on
the web
form in order to identify practices that correlate well with high quality
sequence. These will form the basis of the recommended method. Preliminary
results will be presented at ABRF 2000.
It is not be necessary to register for both parts in order to participate in
this study, although we encourage everybody to do so. To request the materials
necessary to participate in this study please use the following url:
http://brcweb.bio.cornell.edu/dsrg2000/
You will receive your sample of the standard BAC and/or the bacterial stab
shortly after registering. Additional information concerning how to return the
sequence, the purified BAC, where to find the web forms etc. will be provided
at that time.
Please note: In conjunction with the 2000 Study we are also conducting a
general survey of sequencing laboratories designed to give us an accurate
picture of the composition and configuration of the average DNA sequencing
laboratory. To take part in this survey please use the url given above.
To be included in the preliminary presentation results, materials and surveys
must be received by the following deadlines:
Part 1: January 31, 2000
Part 2: January 31, 2000
General survey: January 31, 2000
I hope to hear from you all shortly!
Sincerely,
Theodore W. Thannhauser, Ph.D.
Director, BioResource Center
Rm. 149 Biotechnology Building
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York 14853-2703
Phone: (607) 254-4850
FAX: (607) 254-4847
Email: tt34 at cornell.eduhttp://brcweb.bio.cornell.edu
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