park in Walnut Creek, California to consolidate genome research activities. Led by biotechnology industry veteran Nigel Mouncey, who assumed the position of Director in March 2017, the DOE JGI receives its funding from the Office of Biological and Environmental Research in DOE's Office of Science. Originally established to work on the Human Genome Project—the JGI generated the complete sequences of Chromosomes 5, 16 and 19—the JGI has since shifted its focus to the non-human components of the biosphere, particularly those relevant to the DOE's science mission. Since 2004, the JGI has been a user facility that advances genomics research in a broad range of disciplines where DNA sequence information is likely to drive scientific discoveries. In February 2004, the JGI launched the Community Sequencing Program (CSP), known as the Community Science Program, which provides the scientific community at large with access to high-throughput, high-quality sequencing, DNA synthesis, metabolomics and analysis capabilities. The projects involve many important multicellular organisms, microbes and communities of microbes called metagenomes (or microbiomes) related to the DOE mission areas of bioenergy, understanding global cycles such as the carbon cycle, and biogeochemistry and are chosen primarily based on scientific merit as determined by outside review. Genome sequencing milestones In 2006, the JGI published the genome of the first tree sequenced—the cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa). In partnership with other federal institutions and universities, the JGI has also published the genome sequences of sorghum, a candidate feedstock for biofuels and biomanufacturing. Data management systems The JGI also supports programs dedicated to functional and evolutionary genomics related to the organisms and environments being sequenced and the development of computational and bioinformatic tools for data management and mining. These genome and metagenome/microbiome analysis systems include Genome Portal, Phytozome, IMG and the Genomes OnLine Database. The Integrated Microbial Genomes System (IMG), which provides a framework for comparative analysis of primarily microbial genomes, though the system also supports eukaryotic genomes and environmental samples. Its goal is to facilitate the visualization and exploration of genomes from a functional and evolutionary perspective. References External links and sources DOE Joint Genome Institute (official) Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (official) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (official) Los Alamos National Laboratory (official) Genomes OnLine Database Government agencies established in 1997 United States Department of Energy national laboratories University of California Genetics or genomics research institutions Research institutes in the San Francisco Bay Area Research institutes in California