Ferl

Space Biotechnology and Commercial Applications: 

Space Biotechnology and Commercial Applications Rob Ferl Professor, SABRE Director

SABRE: 

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

Overview: 

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 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

Functional Genomics: 

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

UF / NASA /KSC Genomics: 

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

UF / NASA /KSC Genomics: 

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

Functional Genomic Grants I: 

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]

Functional Genomic Grants II: 

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

Functional Genomics Interactions - ESTs: 

Functional Genomics Interactions - ESTs ICBR Sequencing (Farmerie) State Genome Center (McCarty) NSF Peanut Tissue RNAs (UF-Gallo-Meagher) Wheat Tissue RNAs (KSC-Levine, Stutte, Goins) Spotted Gene Arrays Informatics Databases

Functional Genomics Interactions - Arrays: 

Functional Genomics Interactions - Arrays ICBR Sequencing (Farmerie) Genome Center (McCarty) Peanut Tissue RNAs (UF-Gallo-Meagher) Wheat Tissue RNAs (KSC-Levine, Stutte, Goins) Spotted Gene Arrays Informatics Databases

Functional Genomics Interactions - Genes: 

Functional Genomics Interactions - Genes Gene Adaptations (Paul, Guy, Gurley, Ferl) Commercial Gene Arrays Informatics Databases (Farmerie, McCarty) Test Chamber Development (Bucklin)

Functional Genomics Anticipated Results: 

Functional Genomics Anticipated Results 10 25 50 75 vs 101

Seed Grants: 

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)

Major 12 month Objectives: 

Major 12 month Objectives 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

Conclusions: 

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