Biocuration of rice genes and pathways by OSU undergraduates

Plant Reactome is the pathway portal of Gramene knowledgebase.We combine manual biocuration and gene-orthology based automated projections to provide conceptual framework of system-level plant pathway networks for 106 species of photoautotrophs, including models, crops and species of evolutionary interests. We use rice (Oryza sativa) as a reference species and implement biocuration to improve the functional annotation of genes, and to construct gene-networks and pathways. In these efforts, we engage undergraduate students in small research projects designed to develop their genomic data literacy by leveraging affiliated bioinformatics data science courses, thesis projects, research programs, and experiential learning internships—all available at Oregon State University (OSU). In the winter and spring terms of 2021, six students worked under the supervision of Dr. Sushma Naithani, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at OSU. These undergraduate students contributed to biocuration of gene-networks involved in abiotic stress response based on published scientific literature, and analyses of transcriptome datasets. 

The student projects were funded by the Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and the Arts (URSA) Engage Program at Oregon State University.   

Learn about our 2021 biocuration research stories by watching the following 3 minutes flash talks, also available from Gramene’s YouTube channel