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December 7, 2007
Source:
CropBiotech Update
Sequencing of angiosperm
(flowering plant) genomes has always been difficult despite the
rapidly decreasing sequencing costs and innovative technologies.
Generating large sequence data and assembling complex genomes de
novo represents a challenge to scientists. To this end, the
sequencing of the cotton genome still remains a daunting task. A
coalition of international genome scientists has developed
strategies for sequencing the cotton genomes.
Genomic resources are available to aid scientists sequence the
cotton genome. Currently, more than 350,000 cotton sequences are
stored in the GenBank. In addition, the order in which cotton
belongs (Malvales) is the nearest relative to Arabidopsis
outside its own order in which genetic and physical maps have
been described. A total of 62% sequenced cotton loci had matches
in Arabidopsis. Since species representative within the
Gossypium genus vary in the size of their haploid genome as well
as in the number of their chromosome sets, it will be important
to consider which species will be sequenced. The sequenced
cotton genome will not only help in breeding improved varieties
but also stimulate fundamental research on genome evolution,
cell differentiation and development, cellulose biosynthesis,
molecular determinants of cell wall biogenesis and genome
polyploidization (production of several copies).
Read the article published by Plant Physiology at
http://www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/content/full/145/4/1303
The Cotton Genome Sequencing White
Paper can be found at
http://algodon.tamu.edu/sequencing/docs/2WhitePaper12_11_2006.pdf.
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