Dr. Randy Scholl
Department of Molecular Genetics
Ohio State University, Columbus
Arabidopsis thaliana is currently taking a place alongside species such as yeast and Drosophila as one of the major model research organisms, as discussed in Dr. Mary Anderson's article in this issue. As she suggests, it is beneficial to the entire plant and agricultural community for a species so closely related to crop plants to become the focus of such efforts.
More direct applications of this development to crop improvement also should be possible. For example, Arabidopsis clones should be useful for both the cloning and alteration of crop genes utilizing biotechnological approaches.
Need for Resource Center
The increase of genetic lines and deoxyribonuclic acid (DNA) clones, associated with the research activity focused on Arabidopsis, has become exponential. To preserve these resources and promote their exchange, a germplasm and DNA stock facility is being established at Ohio State University (OSU). Funded by the National Science Foundation, The Arabidopsis Biological Resource Center at Ohio State (the center), will complement the existing seed stock center at Nottingham, England, and the DNA stock center at K”ln, Germany. The creation ofArabidopsis stock centers was one of the first goals of the Multinational Coordinated Arabidopsis thaliana Genome Research Project.
Responsibilities
OSU's Center will collect and preserve both seed and DNA stocks of Arabidopsis, and provide samples upon request. Plans are to establish an on-line database that will contain detailed information about the stocks and species. The staff foresees the database as a user-friendly system that will operate in much the same way as modem microcomputer programs. It will be windoworiented and, when finished next year, should represent a direct and useful connection between the Center and the scientific community.
Since the Center has just been established, the first tasks are to organize its operation, obtain existing large collections, and solicit other stock donations. These operations will be conducted in the next few months. Orders will be taken when the first stocks are ready for distribution, sometime after March 1992.
Meanwhile, OSU staff will be communicating with the Arabidopsis community as to the nature of services to be provided, the exact composition of the database, and other aspects of the operating procedures. OSU will use the Arabidopsis Bionet electronic news group as well as direct mailings to provide information about the Center. Interested persons may access the electronic news or request that their names be placed on the mailing list.
Staffing for Center
The seed stock collections will be supervised by Dr. Randy Scholl. Dr. Keith Davis of the Ohio State Biotechnology Center will serve as associate director of the Center and supervise the DNA facility. The database will be developed by Dr. Sakti Pramanik from Michigan State University's Computer Science Department.
Plans are to employ four master-level technical assistants at the Center. Their responsibilities will include handling laboratory and greenhouse operations, taking orders, supplying information to patrons, and inputting and retrieving information from the database.
The Center is soliciting applications for these positions from individuals experienced either with Arabidopsis genetics or molecular biology techniques. All applications are welcome.
The Arabidopsis biological resource centers are certain to be useful to the entire plant research community. The staff at OSU's Center looks forward to working with individuals in the scientific community. For more information, contact OSU at the following address:
The Arabidopsis Biological Research Center at Ohio State
1735 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
Telephone: 614-292-9371
Fax: 614-292-0603
E-mail: arabidopsis+@osu.edu
Individual Contacts:
R. Scholl - 614-292-1982
K. Davis - 614-292-2115
S. Pramanik - 517-353-3177