The Global Invertebrate Genomics Alliance (GIGA): developing community resources to study diverse invertebrate genomes

Over 95% of all metazoan (animal) species comprise the invertebrates, but very few genomes from these organisms have been sequenced. We have, therefore, formed a Global Invertebrate Genomics Alliance (GIGA). Our intent is to build a collaborative network of diverse scientists to tackle major challenges (e.g., species selection, sample collection and storage, sequence assembly, annotation, analytical tools) associated with genome/transcriptome sequencing across a large taxonomic spectrum. We aim to promote standards that will facilitate comparative approaches to invertebrate genomics and collaborations across the international scientific community. Candidate study taxa include species from Porifera, Ctenophora, Cnidaria, Placozoa, Mollusca, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Annelida, Bryozoa, and Platyhelminthes, among others. GIGA will target 7000 noninsect/nonnematode species, with an emphasis on marine taxa because of the unrivaled phyletic diversity in the oceans. Priorities for selecting invertebrates for sequencing will include, but are not restricted to, their phylogenetic placement; relevance to organismal, ecological, and conservation research; and their importance to fisheries and human health. We highlight benefits of sequencing both whole genomes (DNA) and transcriptomes and also suggest policies for genomic-level data access and sharing based on transparency and inclusiveness. The GIGA Web site (http://giga.nova.edu) has been launched to facilitate this collaborative venture

An empirical rate equation for the partial removal of manganese from solution using a gas mixture of sulfur dioxide and oxygen

The oxidation of soluble manganese by SO2-O2 gas mixtures is known to occur via complicated reaction pathways. An empirical equation was derived for the rate of manganese precipitation from solution as a function of the gas composition, the concentrations of dissolved sulfur and O2, and the solution temperature and pH. The relationships between the rate of manganese precipitation and each of these parameters were obtained from batch tests. The influence of SO2 was described by both the SO2 content of the gas mixture and the concentration of the dissolved sulfur arising from the dissolution of the SO2 gas. The rate of manganese precipitation was found to be first order with respect to the dissolved O2 concentration and inversely proportional to the pH of the solution. An Arrhenius relationship was used to relate the solution temperature to the rate of precipitation, from which an activation energy of 23.5 kJ/mol was calculated. The manganese(II) concentration had little influence on the rate at concentrations above 500 mg/L. The rate equations for each of the operating parameters were combined into a single empirical rate equation for manganese precipitation, which described all of the batch data and was also applicable to manganese precipitation in continuous mode

The Global Invertebrate Genomics Alliance (GIGA): Developing Community Resources to Study Diverse Invertebrate Genomes

Over 95% of all metazoan (animal) species comprise the invertebrates, but very few genomes from these organisms have been sequenced. We have, therefore, formed a Global Invertebrate Genomics Alliance (GIGA). Our intent is to build a collaborative network of diverse scientists to tackle major challenges (e.g., species selection, sample collection and storage, sequence assembly, annotation, analytical tools) associated with genome/transcriptome sequencing across a large taxonomic spectrum. We aim to promote standards that will facilitate comparative approaches to invertebrate genomics and collaborations across the international scientific community. Candidate study taxa include species from Porifera, Ctenophora, Cnidaria, Placozoa, Mollusca, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Annelida, Bryozoa, and Platyhelminthes, among others. GIGA will target 7000 noninsect/nonnematode species, with an emphasis on marine taxa because of the unrivaled phyletic diversity in the oceans. Priorities for selecting invertebrates for sequencing will include, but are not restricted to, their phylogenetic placement; relevance to organismal, ecological, and conservation research; and their importance to fisheries and human health. We highlight benefits of sequencing both whole genomes (DNA) and transcriptomes and also suggest policies for genomic-level data access and sharing based on transparency and inclusiveness. The GIGA Web site (http://giga.nova.edu) has been launched to facilitate this collaborative venture. © 2013 The American Genetic Association 2013. All rights reserved

St. John's Daily Star, 1920-06-09

The St. John's Daily Star was published daily except Sunday between 17 April 1915 - 23 July 1921