Introduction to OMGN
Because of their economic impact as plant pathogens, molecular, genetic and genomics studies are well advanced in many oomycete species. These organisms have served as lead species for the entire Stramenopiles lineage, a major radiation of crown eukaryotes, distinct from plants, animals and fungi. The oomycete molecular genetics community has a strong culture of collaboration and communication, and sharing of techniques and resources. With the recent blossoming of genetic and genomic tools for oomycetes, many new investigators, from a variety of backgrounds, have become interested in oomycete molecular genetics and genomics. The goals of the Oomycete Molecular Genetics Research Collaboration Network is to facilitate the integration of these investigators into the community and to further strengthen the cooperative culture of this community. A particular emphasis is placed on training and integrating junior faculty and faculty from institutions under-represented in the U.S. research infrastructure. The network's activities have been supported by two grants from the NSF Research Collaboration Networks in Biology program.
Goals of OMGN
1. Provide training to oömycete molecular genetics researchers, especially those from smaller institutions, in the use of bioinformatics and genomics resources.
2. Promote the entry, participation and training of new investigators into the field of oömycete genomics, particularly junior faculty and faculty from institutions under-represented in the U.S. research infrastructure.
3. Promote communication and collaboration, and minimize duplication of effort, within the worldwide oömycete genomics community.
4. Support an Oömycete Genomics Resources Center to maintain and distribute training and research materials produced by community genomics projects.