Genomes
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Primates
The Genome Institute at Washington University School of Medicine has produced whole genome assemblies for several primates in conjunction with The Broad Institute (Cambridge, MA) and Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center (Houston, TX). These assemblies include chimp, orangutan, rhesus macaque, marmoset, and tarsier. Other primate projects that are in various stages of sequencing and analysis are the vervet, cynomologous macaque, gibbon and gorilla.
Other Vertebrates
We define other vertebrates as a grouping of all non-primate vertebrate sequencing projects. The Genome Institute at Washington University School of Medicine has produced whole genome draft assemblies for a variety of other vertebrate species spanning over 400 million years of evolution. This diverse grouping of species presents unique traits that allow us to question the molecular signatures responsible. Though we cannot recreate the evolutionary changes needed to bring about these phenotypes, we can turn to whole genome comparisons among diverse species, hoping to find clues in the smallest functional pieces, the genes.
Invertebrates
Invertebrates are defined as organisms having to backbone or spinal column. This group includes 97% of all animals and therefore, is of great import, especially in attempting to determine phylogenetic relationships. The Genome Institute has sequenced and is sequencing many invertebrates for just this purpose. We also have been and presently are working with other sequencing Centers (such as The Broad Institute, The Welcome Trust Sanger Centre, Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center, and the J Craig Venter Institute) on joint invertebrate sequencing and analysis projects.
Plants
The Genome Institute at Washington University School of Medicine has participated in two plant projects, the Arabidopsis Genome Project, as a member of an international consortium, and the Maize Genome Project in which The Genome Institute was the lead institution. The Arabidopsis genome was completed in 2000. The Maize Project was published in 2009 and provides an ordered set of finished sequences for the gene-rich regions of the genome, while linking these “gene islands” to the genetic map — providing the necessary context for the utilization of maize gene sequences as a platform for biological research.
Microorganisms
The microbial sequencing effort at The Genome Institute currently includes organisms in several categories. One major effort involves the human microbiome - the collection of microbes that colonize the human body. The Genome Institute is applying next generation sequencing and analysis technology to analyze the genomes of these and other microbes, characterize the communities they form and measure how they change in health and disease.
