The Drosophila simulans, strain Inbred6 (sim6), assembly is the result of sequencing 
one of seven inbred simulans strains as part of the Drosophila simulans genome project.
The seven strains are; white501, C167.4, New Caledonia, Inbred4, Inbred6, MD199S and 
MD106TS.  This PCAP assembly (Genome Res. 13:2164-70 2003) represents whole genome 
shotgun data sequenced to a depth of ~1X from short insert plasmid libraries made 
with DNA from adults.  Because it is light shotgun coverage of short insert clones,
the assembly is highly fragmented and undoubtably does not represent the entire genome.  

One of the goals of the D. simulans Genome Project was to generate a resource
for the study of genomic sequence variation in populations by gathering genome-wide
polymorphisms.  The light shotgun sequencing of the seven strain provides that resource.
Because of D. simulans evolutionary proximity and low sequence divergence from the 
model organism D. melanogaster, the D. simulans reads can be aligned directly on the 
high-quality D. melenogaster reference sequence, creating a "syntenic" assembly. The 
syntenic assembly for sim6, as well as assemblies for the six other strains, and 
a concensus assembly of all seven strains is available through the Drosophila 
Populations Genomics Project (http://dpgp.org/syntenic_assembly/).

For answers to questions about this assembly or project, or any other GSC genome
project, please visit our Genome Groups web page (http://genome.wustl.edu/genome_group_index.cgi) 
and email the designated contact person.

Funding for the sequence characterization of the Drosophila simulans genome was provided 
by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), National Institutes of Health (NIH).