Environmental Genomics and Gene Expression

The Center for Environmental Biotechnology (CEB) has been at the forefront of applying molecular biology methodology to environmental systems for over 22 years. CEB has applied environmental genomics to study catabolic genes in the environment by DNA:DNA hybridization analysis to quantify catabolic gene frequencies via colony hybridization (Sayler et al., 1985) and direct DNA extractions (Ogram et al., 1987) and apply these technologies to environmental samples (Pettigrew and Sayler, 1986; Ogram and Sayler, 1988; Sanseverino et al., 1993). in situ gene expression analysis and gene discovery was accomplished by extraction and analysis of mRNA directly from soil bacterial populations (Fleming et al., 1993; Fleming et al., 1998). Recently, microarrays and real-time PCR has been applied to the analysis of microbial community dynamics and in situ gene expression (Dionisi et al., 2004; Cook et al., 2004; Cook et al., 2006; Debruyn et al., 2007).

CEB continues to adopt new technology to environmental genomics. We are currently pursuing microbial genome sequencing and metagenomics projects to address environmental concerns. CEB’s current research portfolio in environmental genomics and gene expression includes:

For more information, contact Gary Sayler or John Sanseverino.