Freiburg University and Genedata extend systems biology collaboration

Collaboration extended

Bioinformatics specialist Genedata SA of Basel, Switzerland, and the University of Freiburg, Germany, are extending their existing collaboration based at the Freiburg Initiative for Systems Biology (FRISYS). Within the FRISYS framework, Genedata’s Phylosopher system will be used to integrate public and private data sources, enabling the collaborators to build complete systems biology models of entire organisms, in this case the moss Physcomitrella patens.

The project builds on eight years of work by the International Moss Sequencing Consortium, which earlier in 2008 reported the draft sequence of Physcomitrella. This moss boasts impressive survival qualities and is thought likely to be an important source of genes to improve cultivated plants.

In particular, Physcomitrella carries genes that supported the transition of photosynthetic organisms from aquatic environments to land, including enhanced osmoregulation, desiccation and freezing tolerance, heat resistance and tolerance of ultraviolet light.

“This FRISYS project builds a bridge from basic research to applied systems biology in industry for agribiotech and biologics, nutrition and cosmetics applications, to name just a few,” said Othmar Pfannes, CEO of Genedata.