Genome Prairie develops and manages a wide range of initiatives related to bioscience research. This research has broad impacts across many different sectors including agriculture, human and animal health and the environment, to name a few. Our research is generating new knowledge, tools and techniques to transform and enhance our understanding of the world. This understanding is being applied to strengthen the competitiveness of the Prairie region by enabling the development of new products, processes and services.
Browse our current projects and our completed projects below.
Capturing the Value of Genomics Research
Genomics research is fundamental to all biosciences and plays a critical role in expanding the economic diversification and well-being of Canada and the Prairie provinces. Research in this field is progressing at a rapid pace and is driving innovation in… Learn More >
MGCB2 July 2009 - September 2014
Microbial Genomics for Biofuels and Co-Products from Biorefining Processes
Turning Waste into Value-Added Resources
Microbes are nature’s top recyclers. Genome Prairie researchers are leading an international collaboration exploring the ability of certain bacteria to convert waste materials such as straw, woodchips and paper into renewable biofuels and biodegradable… Learn More >
Energizing Commercialization of Industrial Oilseed Crops
Rising oil prices and the increasing desire for environmentally friendly alternatives are driving demand for plant-based industrial oil products. Prairie Gold is an innovative $4.5 million project to develop the emerging industrial oilseed market in the… Learn More >
Maximizing the Utility of Flax
Canada is the world’s largest producer of flax. Over the past decade flax has become an important multi-purpose crop with increasing demand for flax oil, seed and fibre. Flax oil is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and plant estrogens, which… Learn More >
Securing the Future of Wheat in Canada
Wheat is a staple food crop that contributes about $4 billion annually to the Canadian farm industry and a total value of about $11 billion when value-added food processing is considered. The Canadian Triticum Advancement Through Genomics (CTAG) project… Learn More >
MAVEN September 2011 - September 2013
Microbial Assessment for Value-Add, Environment and Natural Resources
Microbes: Bringing Mining to a Whole New Level
Now more than ever, mining industries are striving to achieve greater levels of transparency, accountability as well as environmental and social responsibility. Microbial Assessment for Value-Add, Environment and Natural Resources (MAVEN) researchers are… Learn More >
Maintaining healthy and more profitable pig production
With the mapping of the pig genome, scientists now have an opportunity to apply genomic-based tools to the pork industry. Genome Prairie is the co-lead for the Application of Genomics to Improve Swine Health and Welfare project. Similar tools have… Learn More >
Crop Adaptation Genomics - Feeding a Hungry World as Climate Changes
2006 - 2011
Genome Prairie’s research in Crop Adaptation Genomics (CAG) is helping traditional crop breeders develop frost-hardy crops better suited to Canada’s short growing season.
In Canada’s tough climate our agricultural crops need to be…
Learn More >
Cold Tolerant Rye - Rye Genetics Hold the Strongest Potential
2007 - 2010
Working to enhance the progress already made with spring wheat through the Crop Adaptation Genomics project, researchers shifted their focus to rye as a possibility of discovering a further level of frost tolerance. The molecular markers, genetic tags…
Learn More >
DOTM - Building Commercial Opportunities through Designer Oils
The development of canola as a nutritionally-superior vegetable oil is a genetic research success story. Canola currently accounts for 70% of vegetable oil products in Canada, but genomics researchers believe they can make it even better.
The canola…
Learn More >
Enabling Technologies For Proteomic Research - Bringing New Capacity to Proteomics Research
2003
Advancements in new fields of science almost always go hand in hand with the development of new technology and the Human Genome Project is no exception. With the DNA sequence of genomes of hundreds of different organisms in hand, the next step is to turn…
Learn More >
ECTG - Genomics: Helping Increase Crop Yield in Canola
The goal of the Enhancing Canola through Genomics (ECTG) project is to develop and employ genomic tools for the study of seed development and composition in Brassica oilseed crops. During 2003-2004, progress was made in research activities related to seed…
Learn More >
Enabling Technologies for Embryonic Stem Cell Functional Genomics -
2008
Embryonic Stem (ES) cells have played an indispensable role in helping researchers understand the function of human disease genes and in creating mouse models of human disease. ES research has the potential to transform knowledge of human disease into the…
Learn More >
Functional Genomics of Abiotic Stress -
The FGAS project undertook research activities to identify genes that provide improved resistance to cold and drought in cereal and canola crops.
The Functional Genomics of Abiotic Stress (FGAS) project used a range of genomics and proteomics…
Learn More >
FPMI - Using genomics to understand pathogen-host interactions and disease prevention.
The prevention and treatment of infectious diseases presents similar challenges in humans and animals. The “disease triangle”, which conceptualizes the interaction between the host, pathogen, and the environment, is a framework to…
Learn More >
GE3LS - Commercialization & Society
GE3LS provides leadership in ethical, environmental, economic, legal, and social issues related to genomics in Canada.
Through an examination of key issues in the areas of intellectual property management, commercialization issues and public views on…
Learn More >
IBOC - Boosting the Value of Canola Seed
The Improving Brassica Oil Content (IBOC) project was a joint Alberta - Saskatchewan project initiated to provide a better understanding of the overall metabolic events in the seed, the relationship between the embryo, endosperm and seed coat and their…
Learn More >
MEOR - Using Microbes to Enhance Oil Recovery
After decades of oil recovery from conventional oil reservoirs, using techniques like water flooding, steam injection, and horizontal drilling to recover oil, approximately 65% of all discovered oil still remains trapped in the ground — most of it…
Learn More >
NorCOMM - Advancing Health Research through Improved Models
To uncover the role of genetic changes in the development of hereditary diseases such as cancer, it is possible to “knock out” selected genes in mice either by removing them, or selectively turning them on or off. Known as gene trapping or…
Learn More >