Venter takes a shot at the sea

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In summary, a recent pilot study by Craig Venter and his colleagues utilized shotgun sequencing to clone and sequence microbial genomes from seawater in the Sargasso Sea. This revealed over 1.2 million new genes, including 700 new rhodopsin-like photoreceptors, highlighting the vast diversity of microbes in the ocean. Venter believes this method has the potential to map entire environments and make extraordinary discoveries.
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http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20040305/01 [Broken]

Shotgun sequencing of the ocean reveals 1.2 million new genes in a single sweep | By Cathy Holding

New horizons in oceanography and genomics were opened up this week with the publication by Craig Venter and colleagues of a pilot study to shotgun clone and sequence microbial genomes filtered from seawater in the Sargasso Sea, off the coast of Bermuda (Science, DOI:10.1126/science.1093857, March 4, 2004).

More than 1.2 million new genes were identified, revealing a level of microbial diversity in seawater that was only previously guessed at. More than 700 of those were new rhodopsin-like photoreceptors.

“At the time of writing the paper, there were roughly 180,000 genes and proteins in Swiss-Prot [the curated protein database],” Venter told The Scientist. “In one paper, we're adding 1.2 or 1.3 million [genes].”

Venter said his group had extended the shotgun method to take it from single genomes to entire environments. “The level of discovery is truly extraordinary,” he said.
 
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  • #2
They found the genes, now I am ready to see them map the genes.:smile:

Nautica
 
  • #3
I'll bet they will map them, even though they don't know what critters those genes belong to!
 
  • #4
Yet :wink:
 

1. What is "Venter takes a shot at the sea"?

"Venter takes a shot at the sea" refers to a scientific project led by geneticist J. Craig Venter to collect and analyze microbial DNA from ocean water in order to better understand the diversity and function of marine ecosystems.

2. Why is this project important?

This project is important because microbes play a crucial role in marine ecosystems, influencing everything from nutrient cycling to climate regulation. By studying their DNA, we can gain a better understanding of how these ecosystems function and how they may be affected by environmental changes.

3. How is the DNA collected from the ocean?

The DNA is collected using a specially designed sampling device called the Environmental Sample Processor (ESP), which is able to filter and preserve microbial DNA from seawater in real time.

4. What techniques are used to analyze the DNA?

The DNA is analyzed using a combination of advanced sequencing technologies and bioinformatics tools. This allows scientists to identify and characterize the different types of microbes present in the samples.

5. What are some potential applications of this research?

The research from this project can potentially be applied to various fields, including marine conservation, biotechnology, and medicine. By understanding the diversity and function of marine microbes, we can also gain insights into how to better manage and protect our oceans, as well as develop new biotechnological and medical applications based on these microorganisms.

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