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1. Goals
2. Research plans
	1) Development of technology for effectively analyzing the rice genome
	2) Identification of the complete nucleotide sequence of the rice genome
	3) Development of technology to clarify genome information

1. Goals A precise physical map and a map of expressed genes will be established to enable the efficient identification of the nucleotide sequence of the rice genome. Based on these maps, all the base sequences of the rice genome which comprise the blueprint for rice plant, will be decoded within ten years. A systematic approach for accurately predicting the genes from the sequence based on existing evidences will also be developed. 2. Research plans 1) Development of technology for effectively analyzing the rice genome (1) Purpose of research A genomic library and a precise physical map for decoding the ncleotide sequence of the entire genome will be constructed. The expressed genes (cDNA) will be located on a chromosomal map to provide markers that can be used in assembling the sequences based on their original position in the genome, isolating useful genes and breeding highly desirable cultivars of rice. (2) Research plans A PAC and BAC genomic library will be constructed and a precise physical map will be generated by aligning PAC/BAC clones along the 12 chromosomes. The molecular markers in the genetic map and ESTs in the transcript map of rice will be used to determine the position and order of the clones. (3) Goals A precise physical map of rice chromosomes 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8 will be constructed after completion of the PAC and BAC library that covers the rice genome. This is expected to facilitate the positioning of approximately 7,000 types of genes (equivalent to 14,000 cDNA) on these chromosomes. 2) Identification of the complete nucleotide sequence of the rice genome (1) Purpose of research Based on the results obtained in the first stage of rice genome research, the complete sequence of rice will be analyzed to gain all the information on genes present in the rice genome that will lead to the production of useful new crops using such information. (2) Research plans The base sequences of the rice genome will be decoded starting from the most important region, where a great number of genes are present, so that the complete base sequences, or the total blueprint for rice, can be deciphered in less than 10 years. (3) Goals The ultimate goal is to obtain a complete and accurate nucleotide base sequence of the rice genome. The genome sequence will then be used to develop innovative strategies for rice improvement. 3) Development of technology to clarify genome information (1) Purpose of research Decoding of genome information is an important research area that will lead to accumulation of information on the complete base sequence, isolation of important genes, identification of genetic functions and patenting of the genes obtained. Therefore, an informatics infrastracture will be developed to decipher, integrate, and retrieve such information efficiently. (2) Research plans The meaning of the decoded base sequences will be inferred using the base sequence information from other organisms. An analysis system for rapid prediction of gene domains and promoters (the base sequences that control expression) will be developed. (3) Goals An annotation system will be developed to predict the protein code domain in base sequence information. An information management and database system will also be constructed to facilitate efficient analysis and retrieval of genome information.