Transcript Space Biotechnology and Commercial Applications

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Space Biotechnology and Commercial
Applications
Rob Ferl
Professor, SABRE Director
SABRE
Space Agriculture and Biotechnology Research and Education
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
SABRE
• UF academic center
• Center activities funded by UF VPs
– Courtesy appointments of KSC scientists
– UF faculty recruitment to KSC
– SERPL support POC
• Interface for genomics approaches to space related biology
research
SABRE
Space Agriculture and Biotechnology Research and Education
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Overview
• Goal: Develop and Apply Functional Genomics Tools to
NASA Spaceflight and ALS Objectives
• Interdisciplinary Work
– Hort, EnvHort, AgBioEng, MicroCS, Agron,
– ICBR
– KSC / NASA Interface
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45% Funding to leverage existing projects in and to NASA
35% Equipment and infrastructure to support all projects
20% Seed grants to capture innovative science
10% Center activities
Space Agriculture in the Classroom
SABRE
Space Agriculture and Biotechnology Research and Education
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Functional Genomics
Background:
• Use of high throughput DNA sequencing, high density
arrays and bioinformatics
• Focuses on UF strengths in plant genomics and genomics
infrastructure
• Interfaces with and leverages ICBR and the Genetics
Institute
• Leverages ag biotech efforts in Florida
SABRE
Space Agriculture and Biotechnology Research and Education
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
UF / NASA /KSC Genomics
• High density analysis of adaptation to space, particularly
plants and microbes
• Focus 1- ALS crops; Dwarf Wheat and Peanut
– Severely underrepresented in NSF as yet
– Primary KSC interests and lead in dwarf wheat testing (Wheeler,
Levine, Goins)
– Dwarf wheat project also interfaces with ongoing and anticipated
flight experiments (Stutte, Levine)
– Peanut project represents unsupported side of ALS crops
SABRE
Space Agriculture and Biotechnology Research and Education
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
UF / NASA /KSC Genomics
• High density analysis of adaptation to space, particularly
plants and microbes
• Focus 2- Model Plants; Arabidopsis
– Extraordinary databases
– Commercial chips and data
– Also interfaces with ongoing and anticipated flight experiments
(Ferl, Paul)
– Interfaces with ALS Mars projects (Schuerger)
– Opposite end of ALS spectrum re tools
SABRE
Space Agriculture and Biotechnology Research and Education
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Functional Genomic Grants I
• Dwarf Wheat EST and Arrays
– Farmerie (ICBR) [State]
– Levine, Goins, Stutte (KSC)
– Paul (UF/KSC coordinator) [NASA, USDA]
• Peanut EST and Arrays
– Gallo-Maegher (Agronomy) [USDA]
– McCarty (Horticulture) [NSF]
SABRE
Space Agriculture and Biotechnology Research and Education
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Functional Genomic Grants II
• Genes in extreme environments
– Paul, Ferl (Horticulture) [NSF, USDA, NASA]
– Guy (Environmental Horticulture) [NSF]
– Gurley (Micro and Cell Science) [DARPA]
» Schuerger, Levine, Stutte
• Environmental chambers for low pressure
– Bucklin (Ag and Biological Engineering)
» Fowler, Wheeler, Sager, Rygalov
SABRE
Space Agriculture and Biotechnology Research and Education
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Functional Genomics Interactions - ESTs
Peanut Tissue RNAs
(UF-Gallo-Meagher)
Wheat Tissue RNAs
(KSC-Levine, Stutte, Goins)
ICBR Sequencing
(Farmerie) State
Genome Center
(McCarty) NSF
Spotted Gene Arrays
Informatics Databases
SABRE
Space Agriculture and Biotechnology Research and Education
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Functional Genomics Interactions - Arrays
Peanut Tissue RNAs
(UF-Gallo-Meagher)
Wheat Tissue RNAs
(KSC-Levine, Stutte, Goins)
ICBR Sequencing
(Farmerie)
Genome Center
(McCarty)
Spotted Gene Arrays
Informatics Databases
SABRE
Space Agriculture and Biotechnology Research and Education
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Functional Genomics Interactions - Genes
Gene Adaptations
(Paul, Guy, Gurley, Ferl)
Test Chamber
Development
(Bucklin)
SABRE
Commercial Gene Arrays
Informatics Databases
(Farmerie, McCarty)
Space Agriculture and Biotechnology Research and Education
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Functional Genomics Anticipated Results
10 25 50 75 vs 101
SABRE
Space Agriculture and Biotechnology Research and Education
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Seed Grants
• Space Agriculture in the Classroom (Osborne et al)
– Ag Education, KSC/NASA Gus Koerner
• Seed development under conditions of hypoxia and
mitochondrial dysfunction (Chase and Zhao, Hort)
• Microbial ecology (Ogram, Soils)
• Enhancing starch productions in plants to overcome
limitations imposed by spaceflight (Hannah et al, Hort)
• Development of a genetics-based computer model for
engineering of new crops (Jones and Vallejos, AgBio Hort)
• Genomic targets of green light effects on plant stature (Folta,
Hort)
SABRE
Space Agriculture and Biotechnology Research and Education
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Major 12 month Objectives
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Obtain 5,000 to 10,000 new dwarf wheat ESTs
Obtain 25,000 peanut ESTs
Develop and utilize peanut and augmented wheat arrays
Develop an understanding of plant adaptations to extreme
environments, especially low pressure, ALS and
spaceflight relevant conditions
• Test hypotheses of integrated stress responses based on
genomics analyses
• Bring on line new approaches to adaptation science
SABRE
Space Agriculture and Biotechnology Research and Education
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Conclusions
• Leveraged work offers more immediate payback by
advancing direct NASA projects and borrowing from
USDA and NSF activities at UF
• Seed grants represent novel approaches to biological
adaptation to environments
• Integrated and multidisciplinary approaches assure mutual
advancement
• Investments in fundamental technology assures access by
KSC and the greater NASA community
SABRE
Space Agriculture and Biotechnology Research and Education