Characterization of the Drosophila Transcriptome (modENCODE)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

This project is an important component of the model organism ENCODE (modENCODE) project, which aims to identify all of the sequence-based functional elements in the Drosophila melanogaster genome. The project is run as a Research Network. Our role is to produce RNA samples that include all D. melanogaster transcripts. RNA samples are prepared from a variety of life cycle stages, from dissected tissues, from cell lines and from tissue regions. Many of these RNA samples are fractionated to enrich small RNAs, nuclear RNAs and poly-A+ RNAs. Sample types are chosen to maximize the diversity of transcriptomes. These samples are then used in experimental and computational work to generate transcript models and to provide a complete baseline catalog of developmental (stage- and tissue-specific) transcription in Drosophila.

PROJECT LEADERS: Peter Cherbas

FUNDING: The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

DATA: Data are being collected now.