The Species Coordinators: Their Role in the National Animal Genome Research Program Max Rothschild, Swine Genome Coordinator Jerry Dodgson, Poultry Genome Coordinator Noelle Cockett, Sheep Genome Coordinator Jim Womack, Cattle Geonome Coordinator Ernie Bailey, Horse Genome Coordinator Background The Species Genome Coordinators, representing cattle, pigs, sheep, horses and poultry, play an important and integral role in efforts of animal genome researchers efforts to identify map and understand genes affecting traits of economic importance in our domestic livestock species. The Coordinators got there start in the National Animal Genome Research Program (NAGRP) which had its beginnings in the 1990 Farm Bill. Initial funds were supplied by CSRS but were later taken "off-the-top" from the Agricultural Experiment Stations to fund a coordinated effort by university and government scientists and the mechanism selected to help in this endeavor was the development of coordinators. An initial competitive request for proposals was developed for species genome coordinators in cattle, sheep, swine and poultry. The rationale for coordinators, based on the already existing models for plant genomes, was that gene mapping is inherently more efficient and productive when researchers share resources and populations, and because most agricultural geneticists operate on comparatively limited budgets and can more easily access modern DNA-based technologies as a group effort. These principles have been most effectively demonstrated in international consortia such as the CEPH human DNA panel, the European project to sequence yeast chromosome 3 and the EEC PiGMaP project. After receiving competitive grant proposals from several individuals Jim Womack was chosen as Cattle Coordinator, Noelle Cockett as Sheep Coordinator, Max Rothschild as Swine Coordinator, and the team of Lyman Crittenden, Hans Cheng and Jerry Dodgson took on the role of Poultry Coordinator(s). More recently Ernie Bailey was chosen as Horse Genome Coordinator. Duties and role of the coordinator First and foremost the Coordinators are to be facilitators for genome research. The activities of the Coordinators include curator of the genome map(s), coordinating genome database development, providing shared materials and resources, coordinating with international gene map leaders, and assisting the individual researchers that make up the species technical committees. Coordinators do not develop research priorities or use funds for their research programs. Accomplishments Coordinators have provided a variety of commonly used resources to everyone in the animal genome community. Initially, they provided reference panel DNAs which were crucial for the national and international mapping efforts. They have provided microsatellite primer kits for mapping and QTL analyses. While all the species programs differ some in this regards the efforts in pigs for microsatellite primers illustrate the value in sharing. A total of 295 primers pairs were first supplied for labs using conventional methods and more recently over 150 primer pairs have been supplied for 2 different fluorescent typing systems. In total over 40 labs have some of the primers. More recently differential display primers have been provided for expression studies. Coordinators have leveraged their funds for databases by working with their international partners who have contributed considerable support to develop and maintain useful public databases for each species. The coordinators serve as coeditors for these databases. They also have developed useful WWW homepages which supply researchers, students and the general public with information on the individual programs and links to other programs. Communication is a major component of the Coordinators' efforts and these efforts have included reference maps, newsletters, computer discussion groups, support for meetings and travel, and educational talks to industry and research groups. Some of the coordinated efforts have been supported by donations from the various animal industries. In all, the Coordinators for each species commit 25-30% of their time to work with and help others in their genome efforts. Outlook The overall rate of progress in mapping the genomes of our domestic livestock animals has been impressive, although it is impossible to fully distinguish the accomplishments of NAGRP participants from other animal geneticists, both here and abroad. The future of the NAGRP will depend on whether support is available through CSREES for renewal of NRSP-8 beyond 1998. We presently lack at least three critical features of the existing human and mouse maps: adequate marker density for fine structure mapping, physical maps based on ordered contigs assembled from large insert DNA libraries, and close alignment of conserved syntenic groups throughout our maps to those of the "information-rich" mouse and human genomes. These are among the primary goals for the future of the NAGRP and animal genomics in general. It is clear that our common interests in new technologies, QTL, and agricultural relevance (not to mention a common lack of adequate financial support) will make increased cooperation mutually beneficial. The Genome Coordinators for Pigs, Cattle, Sheep, Poultry and Horses that are chosen for the next 5 years will play an ever increasing role in helping to facilitate and improve collaboration and communication among genome researchers.