NAGRP Aquaculture Genome Projects

18

From: "John Liu" [liuzhan@auburn.edu]
To: "aquaculturegenomics" [aquaculturegenomics@acesag.auburn.edu]
Cc: "Grant Burgess" [Grant.Burgess@newcastle.ac.uk]
Subject: [aquaculturegenomics] Aquaculture genomics Newsletter 18
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2008 14:43:53 -0500

 Congratulations to Dr. Geoff Waldbieser on a great success of the 
Aquaculture Genomics Workshop: The 2008 NRSP8 Aquaculture Genome Workshop 
was held in conjunction with the International Plant and Animal Genome 
XVI Conference in San Diego, CA.  Dr. Geoff Waldbieser of the USDA/ARS 
Catfish Genetics Research Unit served as the Program Chair and Yniv Palti 
of the USDA/ARS National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture 
served as the Aquaculture NRSP8 secretary and Program Chair-Elect. In 
attendance were well over 100 in the morning, with 75 participants signed 
in from 14 countries; USA, UK, Chinese Taiwan, Canada, Belgium, France, 
Mexico, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Sweden, Poland, and 
Norway. This year's meeting was focused on genome duplication and genome 
sequencing topics.  The Saturday morning session consisted of three 
invited speakers followed by a roundtable discussion with the speakers.  
The morning session was focused on comparative genomics and 
bioinformatics. John Postlethwait, University of Oregon, presented 
examples for the consequences of genome duplication in teleost fish using 
zebrafish stickleback and spotted gar, and proposed using the gar as a 
reference form of the pre-duplication common ancestor. Glenn Tesler of UC 
San Diego described processes and algorithms for calculating chromosomal 
rearrangements and reconstruction of the genomic architecture of the 
ancestral mammals. Warren Snelling, USDA-ARS-MARC, described how the 
composite genome maps were integrated in the Bovine and proposed it as a 
model for aquatic species.  After lunch, there were eight contributed 
oral presentations; three by graduate student/post doc travel award 
recipients, two by graduate/post-doctoral scientists, and three by 
primary investigators.  Additional invited presentations were given by 
Federica diPalma from the Broad Institute, MIT, who talked about 
sequencing the genomes of non-traditional model organisms for better 
understanding of adaptive evolution, and by Richard Hilderman who talked 
about the new South Carolina marine and aquaculture genomics initiative 
that is spearheaded by the Clemson University Genomic Institute. The 
Aquaculture Business Meeting was conducted by Dr. John Liu, followed by a 
poster session that included a reception sponsored by Genome Canada, 
Genome BC and Genome Atlantic. On Sunday morning the species progress 
reports were presented (see ANNUAL REPORT), followed by 13 contributed 
oral presentations. At least seven of the presentations were given by 
students or postdocs.  This year's Workshop was a great success.  
Congratulations to Dr. Geoff Waldbieser for his great leadership and 
efforts for organizing the Workshop.

 Aquaculture Genome elected co-coordinator: In consideration of large 
scopes and a wide range of species involved in aquaculture genome 
research, a co-coordinator was elected.  Dr. Caird Rexroad of National 
Cold and Cool Water Aquaculture Center will serve as co-coordinator for 
aquaculture genome projects, along with John Liu for the coming years. 

 Dr. Yniv Palti will be the next Workshop's organizer: Dr. Yniv Palti 
of the National Cold and Cool Water Aquaculture Center will be our 
organizer for Aquaculture Workshop next year in 2009.  If you have any 
suggestions on the format of the Workshop, please contact Dr. Pati 
(Yniv.Palti@ars.usda.gov). 

 Dr. Krista Nichols elected Chair-elect for Aquaculture Genome Project:
Dr. Krista Nichols (kmnichol@purdue.edu) of Purdue University was elected 
Chair-elect for Aquaculture Genome Project, and she will serve as 
secretory for 2008 and will become the chair in 2009.  Dr. Nichols has 
worked on trout genomics.

 Dr. Yniv Palti was elected coordinator for Salmonids species: US 
Aquaculture Genome currently include six species groups including 
salmonids, catfish, tilapia, shrimps, oysters, and striped bass.  Former 
coordinator for Salmonids, Dr. Caird Rexroad, was elected the 
co-coordinator for the entire Aquaculture Genome Project; Dr. Yniv Palti 
replaces Dr. Rexroad for the coordination of salmonids genomics projects.  
Thanks to Caird for his service as the Salmonids Coordinator in the last 
five years.

 Aquaculture Stakeholder Meeting: The stakeholder meeting of aquaculture 
will be hold April 15 and 16th in Kansas City, Mo. For more information, 
please visit 
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/programs/programs.htm?np_code=106&docid=16488

 Graduate Assistantship Available: Graduate Assistantship Available in 
Diseases of Marine Organisms at the University of Rhode Island, with a 
focus on genomics and bioinformatics. For details, please visit 
http://www.animalgenome.org/aquaculture/community/bbs/.

 The Sixth Annual Workshop on "Genetic Improvement and Selective 
Breeding for the Hybrid Striped Bass Industry" will be held at 
Aquaculture America 2008 "Beyond Magic - Competing in World Markets" 
The National Conference and Exposition of The World Aquaculture Society 
in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY FROM 1:30 - 4:30 PM 
IN FIESTA 7 ROOM OF DISNEY'S CORONADO SPRINGS RESORT.