Dear Cooperator,
The primary mission of MaizeGDB is to serve the maize community, and the MaizeGDB team is very fortunate that maize researchers are dedicated to guiding that mission.
A main goal for MaizeGDB is to facilitate access to the outcomes of maize research in an intuitive format. In that spirit, MaizeGDB is investigating the possibility of adopting and customizing a genome browser as the basis for displaying the annotated maize sequence as it becomes available. While it should be noted that MaizeGDB currently does not have the resources or expertise on staff to annotate the maize genome directly, displaying all available structural (gene model) and functional annotations simultaneously within the context of a genome browser is possible, as is making all relevant data available for download and off-site manipulation. If an outside group is funded to officially annotate the maize genome, MaizeGDB will pursue collaboration to house the official annotations long-term and will seek to create mechanisms for continued community annotation once the primary annotators' project has ended.
As you are probably aware, there are many different genome browsers, each having strengths and weaknesses. We are looking for maize researchers (students, postdocs, faculty, and others) who are willing to help choose a genome browser software for MaizeGDB by taking the following survey. Even if you don't have any experience with genome browsers, please give us a few minutes of your time to contribute your thoughts. You will be the ones using the genome browser regularly, so your input is of the utmost importance for planning purposes.
Feedback to the MaizeGDB team is very important for getting the genome browser software selection and implementation right. At the end of the survey you have the option to reveal your identity if you so desire. This would enable you to work with the team to make sure that the tools to be adopted and developed meet your needs.
Thanks very much for your time and interest,
The Maize Genetics Executive Committee
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