Objective
Backqround: Bacteria are among the best-known organisms in terms of their genomes and laboratory genetics, but paradoxically their population genetics and interactions in the field are poorly understood. The biotechnological significance of this is clear: it is relatively easy to make novel genetic constructs, but difficult to predict the consequences of releasing them in the field. Bacterial population genetics urgently requires further development, both more empirical knowledge (from new molecular tools and better strategies for sampling populations) and a firmer theoretical framework (especially a clearer understanding of the relative importance of different gene transfer processes).
Rhizobia, the nitrogen-fixing symbionts of legumes, are priority organisms for such studies because they are of biotechnological importance as well as an excellent model system. The use of commercial rhizobial inoculants is an established agricultural practice, and there is a long history of agronomic, genetic and ecological studies. Experimental genetically modified (GM) inoculants have been released, and there is potential for commercial use of modified strains in the forseeable future.
The aim of the TRAFFIC consortium is to provide baseline knowledge of the genetic structure of indigenous populations, and to assess the impact of GM releases against this baseline. We shall analyse gene flow within rhizobial populations, between rhizobia and other bacterial groups, and between GM release strains and the indigenous community, and examine the fluctuations in the genetic composition of populations that arise through normal agricultural practice.
Measureable objectives:
- quantitative monitoring of gene transfer to/from GM releases - development of molecular tools to detect genetic elements
- a quantitative survey of the distribution of these elements in indigenous populations, indicating the frequency of natural gene transfer events - characterization of likely natural agents of gene transfer (plasmids and phages).
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologygenetic engineeringgene therapy
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturegrains and oilseedslegumes
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Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
AL52JQ HARPENDEN
United Kingdom