Thanks, we are excited to be part of the WCG.

Hello Crystal,

Simap has indeed the purpose of mapping protein similarities essentially from the public reference protein sequences and especially domains, resulting in a specific database/repository with very valuable research tools. Back in 2006/2007, the Genomecomparison project focussed on protein datasets from whole genomes, and the use of the rigorous ssearch algoritm for enhanced statistical confidence for inter-genome distance calculations and other applications, while Simap ran a much faster (directional hit detection) Blast implementation, in later years redoing the calculations similar to Genome Comparison.
In the Uncovering Genome Mysteries project, we are concentrating much more on metagenomic sequences from environmental samples, containing mostly as yet unknown organisms. The project involves a very large dataset and aims at the discovery of new enzymatic functions, unusual metabolic pathways, and also pretends to shed more light on the ecological relationships and interactions between micro-organisms in specific niches.

Thanks Wim for your insight answer.

Since Sept/Oct 2009 SIMAP (we volunteers ) also calculated millions and milions of sequences from environmental genomes. You surely know or even met Prof. Thomas Rattei (now from Vienna University) and are aware of the treasures you may find in the SIMAP-database.

"Heel veel succes met jullie UGM ontdekkingsreis".

CP

i'm pretty sure, there is no special intent to find a cure for autism, as there is nothing mentioned in this direction.

How many proteins are compared in each workunit? It seems to me about 18,000 but I'm just curious.