1- Scientific context and project objectives

The amount of information available on the structure of plant genomes has been increasing over the last few years, along with all of the results from so-called “-ome” technologies: transcriptome, metabolome, etc. For a private company whose goal is to improve crops, the availability of such data in an easily accessible format is essential.

2- Project description

Biogemma has consolidated a considerable amount of information internally on the genome of plants, from the public sector, from its own research and from the results of programmes developed for Génoplante. The project’s aim is to gather together all of this information on Auvergne within easy reach of most users. A series of servers will be installed to be able to store the public data available, given the ever-increasing volume of these data. These servers will also contain a number of application programs for the public, for business or for Biogemma or in Génoplante. A network will be set up to connect all of Biogemma’s and its shareholders’ sites. The intranet, already in place, will be adapted to the new configuration.

3- Public or controlled use

Use of these services, application software programs and the Intranet will be controlled by Biogemma. Biogemma is open to working with public or private partners who may be interested in having access to servers and/or software over a given period of time.

4- Expected results

Establishment of a Bioinformatics system in Auvergne on plant species, comprising databases, application software and an Intranet. Its use will be controlled by Biogemma’s and its shareholders’ researchers.
It may be open to working with public or private partners and will help to continue local scientific partnerships that have already been forged with Blaise Pascal University and INRA’s laboratories in Crouelle, as well as to create new ones (Mixed INRA-UBP team-Professor Nicolas). The point will be asserting our role in training through placements and contributions from our scientists to local courses, like the Bioinformatics one-year Masters at Clermont and Bioinformatics course at the University Technology Institute in Aurillac.

LifeGrid, the regional information system