Towards decoding the conifer giga-genome

Sammanfattning

Several new initiatives have been launched recently to sequence conifer genomes including pines, spruces and Douglas-fir. Owing to the very large genome sizes ranging from 18 to 35 gigabases, sequencing even a single conifer genome had been considered unattainable until the recent throughput increases and cost reductions afforded by next generation sequencers. The purpose of this review is to describe the context for these new initiatives. A knowledge foundation has been acquired in several conifers of commercial and ecological interest through large-scale cDNA analyses, construction of genetic maps and gene mapping studies aiming to link phenotype and genotype. Exploratory sequencing in pines and spruces have pointed out some of the unique properties of these giga-genomes and suggested strategies that may be needed to extract value from their sequencing. The hope is that recent and pending developments in sequencing technology will contribute to rapidly filling the knowledge vacuum surrounding their structure, contents and evolution. Researchers are also making plans to use comparative analyses that will help to turn the data into a valuable resource for enhancing and protecting the world's conifer forests.

Nyckelord

Conifers; Giga-genome sequencing; Functional genomics; Comparative genomics; Integrative studies

Publicerad i

Plant Molecular Biology
2012, volym: 80, nummer: 6, sidor: 555-569
Utgivare: SPRINGER

SLU författare

• Ingvarsson, Pär

  • Umeå Universitet

UKÄ forskningsämne

Bioinformatik och beräkningsbiologi (Metodutveckling under 10203)
Genetik och genomik
Genetik och förädling inom lantbruksvetenskap

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-012-9961-7

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/84144