By Natasha Splaine
University of Georgia

ATHENS, Ga. — A new University of Georgia research project will
focus on the practical benefits of biotechnology, uniting genetic
research with economic growth.

Aptly named “Genes for Georgia,” this effort will allow UGA
scientists to map out genes of plants and animals important to
Georgia agriculture.

The project, funded by a two-year, $600,000 grant through the
National Science Foundation’s Partnerships for Innovation
program, will make this information accessible to regional
agricultural and biotechnology industries.

“This award will enable our scientists to explore genomes of high
economic value,” said UGA provost Karen Holbrook, the lead
investigator. Participation of a senior administrator is an
unusual requirement for the NSF program.

“Genes for Georgia” was conceived by UGA scientists Andrew
Paterson, a professor of crop and soil sciences, botany and
genetics, and Robert Ivarie, a professor of genetics.

The two will work to decipher the genetic codes of chicken and
cotton. They will collect this information into what they call
“gene encyclopedias.”

A pilot project

The study will serve as a pilot project. But eventually, the
researchers want to create gene encyclopedias for each of
Georgia’s top 10 farm commodities. Together, these 10 have an
estimated economic impact of nearly $15 billion a year.

“The encyclopedias themselves will represent the ‘spellings’ of a
large number of genes in plants and animals that are commercially
important to the state of Georgia,” Paterson said. He will be
working on the cotton genome.

Using tissues from economically important commodities, such as
cotton, peanuts or chickens, the scientists can extract and
sequence DNA, discovering the “spelling” of each gene.

“Each one of these sequences becomes essentially a page in the
gene encyclopedia,” Ivarie said. “And these sequences identify
the gene.” Ivarie will sequence the chicken genome.

Gene encyclopedia

The “pages” will be compiled into an entire gene encyclopedia for
that organism. They then will be made accessible on the Web with
the help of computing and networking specialists.

Bio-based companies could use this information to improve the
quality and yield of their products.

Transforming genetic research into economic growth requires
private investment. But small, bio-based companies often can’t
afford this costly research. They’re unable to compete with
larger, national companies.

“The idea here,” Ivarie said, “is to create the encyclopedias and
make them available to small companies, Georgia farmers and
geneticists who are working on trade improvements.”

Interpreting genetic data

“Genes for Georgia” scientists will also help Georgia’s bio-based
industries interpret the genetic data. The program has the
potential to usher in a new era of innovation for these
industries, Paterson said.

To stimulate interest among these industries, the program will
include workshops to educate target businesses and stakeholders.
The first of these workshops is scheduled for next summer.

“We hope it will be a demonstration project,” Paterson said. “We
want to engage a community of stakeholders in Georgia’s bio-based
industries and educate them on what can be learned from a gene
encyclopedia.”

More information about ‘Genes for Georgia’ is on the Web at www.plantgenome.uga.edu/g4g/.