Global Ocean Sampling Expedition
Encyclopedia
The Global Ocean Sampling Expedition (GOS) is an ocean exploration
genome project
with the goal of assessing the genetic diversity
in marine microbial communities
and to understand their role in nature's fundamental processes. Begun as a Sargasso Sea
pilot sampling project in August 2003, Craig Venter
announced the full Expedition on 4 March 2004. The project, which used Craig Venter
's personal yacht
, started in Halifax, Canada
and circumnavigated the globe and returning to the U.S. in January 2006. The expedition sampled water from Halifax, Nova Scotia
to the Eastern Tropical Pacific while undertaking a two year circumnavigation. During 2007, sampling continued along the west coast of North America.
and Community Cyberinfrastructure for Advanced Marine Microbial Ecology Research and Analysis
(CAMERA), a new online resource for marine metagenomics funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
, developed by JCVI
and hosted by UC San Diego's Division of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2). CAMERA's toolset was developed by JCVI, and reflects the tools used in the initial publication of the GOS datasets.
Ocean exploration
Ocean exploration is a term of biography describing the exploration of the ocean. It is also the period when people explored the ocean fishies. Notable explorers include: the Greeks, the Egyptians, the Polynesians, the Phoenicians, Phytheas, Herodotus, the Vikings, The Portuguese, and Christopher...
genome project
Genome project
Genome projects are scientific endeavours that ultimately aim to determine the complete genome sequence of an organism and to annotate protein-coding genes and other important genome-encoded features...
with the goal of assessing the genetic diversity
Genetic diversity
Genetic diversity, the level of biodiversity, refers to the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. It is distinguished from genetic variability, which describes the tendency of genetic characteristics to vary....
in marine microbial communities
Marine biology
Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
and to understand their role in nature's fundamental processes. Begun as a Sargasso Sea
Sargasso Sea
The Sargasso Sea is a region in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by ocean currents. It is bounded on the west by the Gulf Stream; on the north, by the North Atlantic Current; on the east, by the Canary Current; and on the south, by the North Atlantic Equatorial Current. This...
pilot sampling project in August 2003, Craig Venter
Craig Venter
John Craig Venter is an American biologist and entrepreneur, most famous for his role in being one of the first to sequence the human genome and for his role in creating the first cell with a synthetic genome in 2010. Venter founded Celera Genomics, The Institute for Genomic Research and the J...
announced the full Expedition on 4 March 2004. The project, which used Craig Venter
Craig Venter
John Craig Venter is an American biologist and entrepreneur, most famous for his role in being one of the first to sequence the human genome and for his role in creating the first cell with a synthetic genome in 2010. Venter founded Celera Genomics, The Institute for Genomic Research and the J...
's personal yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
, started in Halifax, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and circumnavigated the globe and returning to the U.S. in January 2006. The expedition sampled water from Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
to the Eastern Tropical Pacific while undertaking a two year circumnavigation. During 2007, sampling continued along the west coast of North America.
Data analysis
The GOS datasets were submitted to both NCBINational Center for Biotechnology Information
The National Center for Biotechnology Information is part of the United States National Library of Medicine , a branch of the National Institutes of Health. The NCBI is located in Bethesda, Maryland and was founded in 1988 through legislation sponsored by Senator Claude Pepper...
and Community Cyberinfrastructure for Advanced Marine Microbial Ecology Research and Analysis
Community Cyberinfrastructure for Advanced Marine Microbial Ecology Research and Analysis
CAMERA, or the Community Cyberinfrastructure for Advanced Marine Microbial Ecology Research and Analysis, is a microbial ecology research project which was announced in January 2006.-Funding:...
(CAMERA), a new online resource for marine metagenomics funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation seeks to develop outcome-based projects that will improve the quality of life for future generations. The private foundation focuses upon portfolios of large-scale initiatives and encourages collaboration so as to achieve the most significant and enduring outcomes...
, developed by JCVI
J. Craig Venter Institute
The J. Craig Venter Institute is a non-profit genomics research institute founded by J. Craig Venter, Ph.D. in October 2006. The Institute was the result of consolidating four organizations: the Center for the Advancement of Genomics, The Institute for Genomic Research, the Institute for...
and hosted by UC San Diego's Division of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2). CAMERA's toolset was developed by JCVI, and reflects the tools used in the initial publication of the GOS datasets.
Funding
The Sorcerer II effort has been funded by:- the Gordon and Betty Moore FoundationGordon and Betty Moore FoundationGordon and Betty Moore Foundation seeks to develop outcome-based projects that will improve the quality of life for future generations. The private foundation focuses upon portfolios of large-scale initiatives and encourages collaboration so as to achieve the most significant and enduring outcomes...
(SequencingSequencingIn genetics and biochemistry, sequencing means to determine the primary structure of an unbranched biopolymer...
and analysis) - the United States Department of EnergyUnited States Department of EnergyThe United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
, Office of ScienceOffice of ScienceThe Office of Science is a component of the United States Department of Energy . The Office of Science is the lead federal agency supporting fundamental scientific research for energy and the Nation’s largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences...
(SequencingSequencingIn genetics and biochemistry, sequencing means to determine the primary structure of an unbranched biopolymer...
and analysis) - The J. Craig Venter InstituteJ. Craig Venter InstituteThe J. Craig Venter Institute is a non-profit genomics research institute founded by J. Craig Venter, Ph.D. in October 2006. The Institute was the result of consolidating four organizations: the Center for the Advancement of Genomics, The Institute for Genomic Research, the Institute for...
(vessel operation) - Moore Foundation seven year, $24.5 million, grant (CAMERACommunity Cyberinfrastructure for Advanced Marine Microbial Ecology Research and AnalysisCAMERA, or the Community Cyberinfrastructure for Advanced Marine Microbial Ecology Research and Analysis, is a microbial ecology research project which was announced in January 2006.-Funding:...
)
External links
- Official website for the project
- Official blog of the 2009–10 leg
- A large picture of Venter on the stern of the Sorcerer II
- GOS data from CAMERACommunity Cyberinfrastructure for Advanced Marine Microbial Ecology Research and AnalysisCAMERA, or the Community Cyberinfrastructure for Advanced Marine Microbial Ecology Research and Analysis, is a microbial ecology research project which was announced in January 2006.-Funding:...
