BCM completes honeybee genome sequence

HOUSTON(January 7, 2004)--The Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM-HGSC) in Houston has announced the assembly of the first draft sequence of the genome of the honey bee, Apis mellifera. For the first time researchers can access the majority of the genes that make up this important organism. The honey bee now joins the fruit fly and mosquito as an insect with a 'genome sequence'.

The honey bee is important in the agricultural community as a producer of honey and for pollination. It is also a model organism for studying human health issues including: immunity, allergic reaction, antibiotic resistance, development, mental health, longevity and diseases of the X chromosome. In addition, biologists are interested in the honey bee's social instincts and behavioral traits. The honey bee sequence will also be very useful for comparative studies in which scientists examine the differences and similarities between DNA sequences of various species to find genes and regulatory regions within DNA.

The project began in December 2001 when four Bee researchers - Danny Weaver, Gene Robinson, Hugh Robertson and Spencer Johnston - approached the Baylor group with a proposal for the project. Subsequently, the project was funded with approximately $6.9 million from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and $750,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Sequencing began in early 2003.

"We recognized the potential of this genome project immediately," said Richard Gibbs, Director of the BCM-HGSC. "It is less than one-tenth the size of the human sequence, but is packed with information. It has the potential to positively influence initiatives in both human health and agriculture."

NHGRI Director Francis S. Collins said, "We are excited that researchers around the world now have free and ready access to a first draft of the honey bee genome. This achievement lays the foundation for new genomic studies with benefits ranging all the way from the produce stand to the medical clinic."

"We are pleased to be part of this important project," said Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman. "Science and technology are key to improving agricultural productivity, and genome sequencing is providing important information that will contribute scientific understanding."

"Honeybees are important pollinators for many important agricultural crops," said Dr. Joe Jen, undersecretary for Research, Education and Economics at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Chair of the Domestic Animal Genomic Interagency Working Group of Committee of Science of the National Science and Technology council. "The first draft of the honeybee genome will provide researchers with the next generation tools to strengthen the honeybee population and benefits our farmers and consumers."

The sequence information can now be used to study the molecular basis of specific traits in the honey bees. The data will be the basis of a comparison with sequence from the Africanized honey bee strains that have invaded the southern areas of the United States.

"The honey bee project thrusts genomics into a new branch of the insect world" said George Weinstock, Co-Director of the BCM-HGSC, "with implications for agriculture, health, and behavioral research."

The current genome assembly was generated by the whole genome shotgun approach, first used for the fruit fly. Data from bacterial artificial chromosome clones will be added for the next release, early in 2004. The sequence results are available on both the Baylor Human Genome Sequencing Center and the public 'GenBank' websites.