Genetic Resources: Collection, Characterization and Applications

This book discusses 14 model organisms and are used by thousands of researchers, teachers, and students each year in laboratories and classrooms, around the globe. Though acknowledged in innumerable scientific journal articles, little is generally known about the origin of these collections, how the organisms contained within them have been acquired, and how they are maintained and distributed. While some collections such as Drosophila have long histories others, such as the collection of Brachionus, are relatively new. They vary greatly in size. Yet, all have contributed and are continuing to contribute to global research efforts in many areas of scientific research as diverse as tissue regeneration, skin cancer, evolution, water purity, gene function, and hundreds of others. In addition to providing the raw materials for national and international research programs, these collections also provide educational tools used by colleges and high schools.

The chapters in this book attempt to provide a brief look at the individual organisms, how they came to be accepted as model organisms, the history of the individual collections, examples of how the organisms have been and are being used in scientific research, and a description of the facilities and procedures used to maintain them.

Features:

• Provides an in-depth look at the collections of 14 model organisms that have enabled innumerable scientific breakthroughs over decades, and that continue to do so.

• Includes detailed descriptions of the operating procedures used for the maintenance of each model organism collection.

• Discusses the holdings of the collections of model organisms and its relevance to past, current and future scientific research.

• Written by the leaders in the field of the management of model organisms.

Robert Jarret was born and raised in Franklin, Massachusetts and graduated from the local high school. After a tour with the US Navy, he attended Bridgewater State College majoring in Biology. Graduate studies were completed at Purdue University (M.S. and Ph.D.) and Colorado State University (MBA). He worked for a period of time at the Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensenanza (CATIE) in Costa Rica and subsequently at the University of Florida (Homestead), eventually moving to his present position. His research activities combine field and laboratory activities and are often multi-disciplinary and typically focused on the conservation and characterization of genetic resources/diversity. In addition to conducting research, he curates collections of various crop and crop-related taxa. He currently resides in Griffin, Georgia.

Kevin McCluskey obtained his Bachelors and Masters degrees at Stanford University. After working in an MIT lab developing applications for a prototype Positron Emission Tomography system, he obtained his Doctorate in Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State where he pioneered the application of pulsed field gel electrophoresis to study the genomes of plant pathogenic fungi. Following a post-doctoral fellowship studying Fusarium at the University of Arizona, he accepted the position of Curator of the Fungal Genetics Stock Center. As curator, he developed the FGSC website and the databases that allow clients to identify and request materials. He is a scientific member of the US National Genetic Resources Advisory Council and also served two terms on the American Phytopathological Society Public Policy Board. Dr. McCluskey has published over 50 articles and chapters on fungal genetics and genomics. He retired from the FGSC in 2018 and is currently working in biotechnology.