Review of the Department of Energy's Genomics : GTL Program

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) promotes scientific and technological innovation to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States. Recognizing the potential of microorganisms to offer new energy alternatives and remediate environmental contamination, DOE initiated the Genomes to Life program, now called Genomics: GTL, in 2000. The program aims to develop a predictive understanding of microbial systems that can be used to engineer systems for bioenergy production and environmental remediation, and to understand carbon cycling and sequestration. This report provides an evaluation of the program and its infrastructure plan. Overall, the report finds that GTL's research has resulted in and promises to deliver many more scientific advancements that contribute to the achievement of DOE's goals. However, the DOE's current plan for building four independent facilities for protein production, molecular imaging, proteome analysis, and systems biology sequentially may not be the most cost-effective, efficient, and scientifically optimal way to provide this infrastructure. As an alternative, the report suggests constructing up to four institute-like facilities, each of which integrates the capabilities of all four of the originally planned facility types and focuses on one or two of DOE's mission goals. The alternative infrastructure plan could have an especially high ratio of scientific benefit to cost because the need for technology will be directly tied to the biology goals of the program. Front Matter......Page 0 Preface......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Contents......Page 12 Summary......Page 14 1 Role of Genomics in Advancing Science......Page 22 2 Role of Genomics: GTL in Achieving the Department of Energy’s Mission Goals: Promise and Challenges......Page 38 3 Implementation of the Genomics: GTL Program Plans......Page 60 Glossary......Page 80 References......Page 82 Appendixes......Page 88 Appendix A Committee Biographies......Page 90 Appendix B Presentations to the Committee......Page 96 Appendix C Research Institutions That Have Received Funds through Contracts and Subcontracts from the Genomics: GTL Program......Page 98 Appendix D Examples of Research in Microbial Genomics Supported by Federal Agencies Other Than the Department of Energy......Page 100