DOE Joint Genome Institute (JGI)
The mission of the JGI is to provide genome sequencing, genome data acquisition, and genome analysis in support of the DOE mission needs in bioenergy, carbon cycling and biosequestration, and environmental remediation and stabilization.

Program Description

The DOE-JGI was created in 1997 to carry out accurate, high throughput sequencing of human DNA in support of DOE’s role in the Human Genome Project (HGP). With the completion of the HGP, the JGI sequencing capacity was adapted to the genomes of the microbes and other organisms (fungi, plants) important to the DOE mission. Since 2000, the JGI has served as a Scientific User Facility, inviting and responding to requests from the external scientific community for sequencing of microbial, plant, and other (non-pathogen) targets. In all cases, the aim of the JGI is to provide to the national and international scientific community the genome-derived “parts lists” that support further discovery.

Solicitations

The DOE-JGI publishes an annual Community Sequencing Program solicitation for sequencing targets (see: http://www.jgi.doe.gov/CSP/index.html). This program is presently open to letters of intent until January 30, 2009. NOTE: The JGI does NOT provide funding support for sequencing or other research efforts. The Community Sequencing Program (CSP) provides the scientific community at large with access to high-throughput sequencing at the DOE-JGI for projects of relevance to DOE missions. Sequencing projects are chosen based on scientific merit--judged through independent peer review--and relevance to issues in global carbon cycling, alternative energy production, and biogeochemistry. Criteria for participation in this program, the review process, and interactions between JGI and participants are outlined at: http://www.jgi.doe.gov/CSP/indes.html). Through this program, the Department of Energy aims to advance sequence-based scientific research from a broad range of disciplines. Three items to note:

  1. Proposals for bacterial and archaeal isolates, to be submitted as brief white papers rather than full proposals, will be accepted on a continuous basis, and will be reviewed every three months.
  2. The current call will be limited to whole-genome sequencing of organisms less than 250 Mb in size.
  3. Applications are encouraged for resequencing of organisms for which reference genomes currently exist where the proposed work will utilize new short-read sequencing technologies.

Why the Program's Research is Important

The genome sequence of any organism, from a virus to an entire multi-species community, provides a catalogue of the component “working parts.” The knowledge of that “parts list” is a fundamental starting point for a powerful array of biological investigations to describe and predict cellular function. Comparative genome and community genome (metagenome) studies also contribute towards understanding fundamental principles of the control circuits regulating gene expression and action, and how external signals (environmental, hormonal, chemical, etc.) influence gene activities.

Data Sharing Policy

The DOE-JGI data release policy is accessible at: http://genome.jgi-psk.org/euk_data.html

Sequencing of submitted projects by the program is contingent on adherence to this data sharing policy.

More Information about the Program and Its Accomplishments

DOE-JGI Web Site

Program Manager

Dan Drell, Ph.D.
Biological Systems Science Division, SC-23.2
U.S. Department of Energy, GTN Bldg.
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20585-1290
Phone: (301) 903-4742
Fax: (301) 903-0567
Email:
daniel.drell@science.doe.gov