Gramene Workshop
Saturday Feb. 25, 2006
3:00
-- 6:00 pm
Location TBA

What is Gramene?
Gramene is a curated, open-source, Web-accessible data resource for comparative genome analysis in the grasses. It currently comprises eleven modules, each of which contains information on rice and other cereal crops. The modules present information about genomes, maps, markers, genes, proteins, and QTL. All modules are inter-related. Key search words (ontologies) are used to query plant anatomy and development, traits and phenotypes, gene functions, biological processes, and cellular components. Graphical views enable users to make comparisons regarding the position of different features such as genes, markers, and QTL by aligning maps from multiple grass species.

What is the purpose of the workshop?
The hands-on workshop will emphasize how rice breeders and scientists may use Gramene. A series of guided tutorials and exercises will instruct participants on how to:
1. Search for traits and their related QTL, genes, and proteins using key words
2. Locate and compare QTL positions and other features of interest
3. Find and examine marker data
4. Find candidate genes Participants will also be given the opportunity to conduct their own queries on their own questions of interest.

Who should attend?
Anyone planning to use Gramene within the next year. The workshop is open to novices as well as those having limited experience using the database.

How to prepare for this workshop to get the most out of it?
Check out the Gramene website at http://www.gramene.org.
Navigate the website to get an idea of what information is available. Identify some examples of searches your research group would want to conduct. Identify problem areas that need to be discussed at the workshop.

How will the workshop be conducted?
The workshop will be limited to 30 participants. We will need 15 laptops that have modem hook-ups to be brought by the participants. These will be used to establish 15 work stations with two people per station. An overview of Gramene will be presented, followed by a break for refreshments, and then there will be ample time to explore the database at your workstation with the help of the Gramene curator.

Any questions about Gramene?
        Contact Noel Yap, Gramene Curator, 607-255-3103, ivy1@cornell.edu
Any questions about the workshop?
        Contact Anna McClung, USDA-ARS, 409-752-5221 ext 2234, Anna.McClung@ars.usda.gov