Frequently Asked Questions

Q Why is the FPC map in genomic coordinates?
A We have transformed the FPC bands to genomic coordinates using a conversion factor of 4900 bases per band. This number, however, should be treated as an approximation.
Q Can I get my region sequenced first?
A No. BAC clones are selected uniformly across the 721 FPC contigs. Seeds have been selected and clones are walked off of these seeds.
Q How are tile seeds selected?
A There are 3400 seed clones selected based on several criteria. They must:
  • be identified by both the agarose and HICF FPC maps
  • be associated with at least one overgo marker
  • have at least one BAC end sequence
  • be at least 800kb apart
More information is available at Arizona Genomics Institute's Maize FPC Map page.
Q Why are all the BACs only in Phase I?
A Since the project aims to sequence the maize genespace, it is expected that regions on BACs that do not contain genes will not be sequenced to a finished quality. For more information, read about the various maize sequencing statuses.
Q The view has too many features. Can I turn off certain tracks?
A Yes. The menu above the browser window lets you control which tracks are visible and which are not. Furthermore, the browser uses cookies to remember the decision for 2 months.
Q Can I view aligned features that are stored in an external data source?
A Yes. The Ensembl browser supports DAS (distributed annotation system). Simply configure a URL to your custom data source (either through a pull-down menu or from the sidebar) and a dedicated track should appear.
Q When will I be able to BLAST my sequence against your database?
A The BLAST server will be available in December 2006.