Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Plant Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #136889
Title: THE PLANT ONTOLOGY CONSORTIUM (POC) AND PLANT ONTOLOGIES

Author
item VINCENT, L - UNIV OF MISSOURI
item Schaeffer, Mary
item Coe Jr, Edward

Submitted to: Plant and Animal Genome VX Conference Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2002
Publication Date: 1/12/2002
Citation: Vincent, L., Polacco, M.L., Coe Jr, E.H. 2002. The plant ontology consortium (poc) and plant ontologies. Plant and Animal Genome Abstracts. V.10:281.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Plant genomic databases need to accurately and consistently document features (e.g., gene structures, products, functions, phenotypes, traits, developmental stages, anatomical parts), using a syntax which facilitates inter-database searches. This interoperability will enable comparative genomic strategies to elucidate plant functions. The Plant Ontology Consortium (POC) is applying and extending the gene ontology (GO) paradigm to knowledge domains pertinent to plant taxa. The GO paradigm is making it possible to annotate homologous gene and protein sequences in many databases for multiple organisms using a common vocabulary (http://www.geneontology.org). The POC aims at providing ontologies and controlled vocabularies for monocot and dicot plant taxa - initially Zea mays, Oryza sativa, and Arabidopsis thaliana, but extending to other important taxa in due course. The POC aims to facilitate the communications, productivity, and collaborations amongst the core participants of the POC involved in developing ontologies and controlled vocabularies for some monocot and dicot taxa. A further aim is numerical growth of participants, extended collaboration with the ongoing research of the GO Consortium and the provision of educational opportunities to students interested in this area of bioinformatics research. It is anticipated that the POC will impact the bioinformatics research of other national and international plant-based research groups/researchers (e.g., soybean, sugarcane, cassava, tree, grain, microarray, etc.), via the provision of various ontology products, community resources and educational inputs. A small sample of ontology and controlled vocabulary for gross morphology - based on maize (Zea mays), rice (Oryza sativa), and Arabidopsis thaliana, will be presented.