By the end of the project, the group had generated two new resources to examine gene function: the first included 5000 GFP-enhancer trap lines, which were used to study temporal-spatial gene expression patterns; the second included 10 000 transgenic strains carrying hormone-regulated promoters, which were used to study how abnormal gene expression affects cell function and plant development. Transcription profiling was also performed to generate approximately 300 gene expression experiments using the Botany Array Resource—the first plant transcript profiling facility built in Canada.
The group has also established the Botany Bioinformatics Cluster, a supercomputer developed for this project and used for storing and analyzing the information it produced. For example, to date, the group has generated approximately 1000 datasets and 24.6 million expression experiments. This data has been shared internationally and the group is recognized as a major contributor to The Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR). This project has also provided new opportunities for commercial interaction and technological development. In summary, the information, reagents and equipment developed by this project have generated and will continue to generate important information that will assist in the understanding various plants including agriculturally-related species.
