Posted on March 12: Genome Canada awards McMaster scientists $2.9 million for genomics research
[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Genomics-Tatlock-pic.jpg”]A team led by McMaster scientists is exploring the genomics of a soil
bacterium that is associated with many Canadian crops in research that could eventually help the environment and improve agricultural practices.
Professors Turlough Finan and Brian Golding are leading the team that has been awarded $2.9 million from Genome Canada. Their project, Genomics Analysis of Soil Microorganisms, has a $5.8 million budget.
Officials from the Ontario Genomics Institute, one of five genomic centres affiliated with Genome Canada, were at McMaster Wednesday to celebrate the award and promote the research project.
Genome Canada is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to developing and implementing a national strategy for genomics and proteomics research in
Canada. To date, it has received $375 million from the federal government to fund genomics and proteomics research in environment, agriculture, fishery, forestry and health sectors across the country. To date, it has invested more than $294 million in 56 innovative projects across Canada.
Ronnie Gavsie, president and CEO of the Ontario Genomics Institute, congratulated the researchers.
“The research team led by Dr. Finan and Dr. Golding is bringing credit to Ontario and Canada for the brilliance of their work,” said Gavsie. “They are creating the basic knowledge that will spark the development of new globally-competitive products and processes, thereby generating tomorrow's employment and income.”
McMaster President Peter George said the McMaster community, in particular students, reaps the benefits of such leading edge research. “McMaster is home to exceptional talent people
like Drs. Finan and Golding who motivate and inspire our students through their approach to scientific discovery.”
The researchers are studying how the genes in the bacterium, Sinorhizobium meliloti, actually function and how important they are to the survival of the bacterium. The bacterium forms a symbiotic relationship with legume crops such as alfalfa, peas, beans, lentils and soybeans.
Turlough Finan, an internationally recognized microbiologist and biology department chair, said this research is supported in part by the newly established McMaster University Centre for Environmental Genomics and Biotechnology.
“This award has provided us with the ability to further our research in functional and environmental genomics at McMaster University. We have been able to bring together research scientists from several disciplines including environmental and medical microbiology,
chemistry, bioinformatics and plant biochemistry into a focused working group. We envision that future genomic projects will be able to capitalize on our diverse genomic expertise.”
The researchers are particularly interested in determining the role of the bacterium in the nitrogen fixation process. The natural process of nitrogen fixation is capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen gas into ammonia, which in turn the crop plant can incorporate into protein. The process of nitrogen fixation plays a critical role in achieving environmentally benign, sustainable farming practices since the need for adding nitrogen fertilizer to crops could be reduced. Reduced nitrogen fertilizer applications in turn reduces nitrogen run-off into streams and rivers.
This research will focus on identifying the roles of genes whose biological function is currently unknown. Even though the genome of this bacterium, like that of the human genome, is completely sequenced, we still do not know the biological function of more than 40 per cent of the genes of this bacterium.
This is also the case for the more than 100 other organisms whose genomes have now been sequenced. By using a combination of genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, chemistry and bioinformatics the researchers will examine the function of more than 2,000 genes in
Sinorhizobium meliloti.
The value to biotechnology in establishing functions to these previously uncharacterized genes lies in the great potential for discovering new biochemical pathways or properties. Such pathways could be used in diverse ways; to degrade environmental pollutants, synthesize bioreactive compounds or engineer traits to enhance the survival of microorganisms and plants to adverse environments.
The research team for the three-year project includes biologists and principal investigators Turlough Finan and Brian Golding, a Canada Research Chair in Bioinformatics, and biology department colleagues Elizabeth Weretilnyk, Peter Summers, Jianping Xu , Christian Baron,
chemist Brian McCarry and biologist Trevor Charles from the University of Waterloo.
The project builds on the recent completion of the sequence of the Sinorhizobium genome, a worldwide research project in which professors Finan and Golding provided the Canadian expertise.
The science of genomics contributes to our broad understanding of the genetic makeup of any living organism. Scientists believe that in the next 10 to 20 years genomics will provide new methods for dealing with environmental concerns, disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention and for managing natural resources and food supplies.
Photo caption: Pictured from left, Ronnie Gavsie, president and CEO of the Ontario Genomics Institute, professor Turlough Finan, McMaster President Peter George and vice-president research & international affairs Mamdouh Shoukri. Photo credit: Robert Tatlock.
