NEW YORK, Nov. 16 (GenomeWeb News) - The National Science Foundation and the US Departments of Agriculture and Energy have allocated nearly $30 million to sequence the maize genome, and has enlisted the help of four research institutions to complete the project.
Washington University, the University of Arizona, Iowa State University, and Cold Spring Harbor Labs will help the agencies complete the project.
Washington University said scientists will sequence a maize cultivar known as B73 that is commonly used in maize genetics research. Sequencing is scheduled to begin next month, and information will be available online in early 2006. Scientists estimate the project will take three years.
The University of Arizona, Cold Spring Harbor Labs, and Washington University worked together previously in sequencing the rice genome, which was completed in August.
Last month, the NSF awarded $4.5 million to Purdue University to sequence the soybean genome.