Plant Genomics Databases Methods And Protocols

Functional genomics is a young discipline whose origin can be traced back to the late 1980s and early 1990s, when molecular tools became available to determine the cellular functions of genes. Today, functional genomics is p- ceived as the analysis, often large-scale, that bridges the structure and organi- tion of genomes and the assessment of gene function. The completion in 2000 of the genome sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana has created a number of new and exciting challenges in plant functional genomics. The immediate task for the plant biology community is to establish the functions of the approximately 25,000 genes present in this model plant. One major issue that will remain even after this formidable task is c- pleted is establishing to what degree our understanding of the genome of one model organism, such as the dicot Arabidopsis, provides insight into the or- nization and function of genes in other plants. The genome sequence of rice, completed in 2002 as a result of the synergistic interaction of the private and public sectors, promises to significantly enrich our knowledge of the general organization of plant genomes. However, the tools available to investigate gene function in rice are lagging behind those offered by other model plant systems. Approaches available to investigate gene function become even more limited for plants other than the model systems of Arabidopsis, rice, and maize.

This book aims to assist research scientists in choosing the most applicable database or bioinformatics tools to aid and promote their research in plant biotechnology. Chapters include practical examples and highlight common problems encountered in bioinformatics analysis. Further chapters are aimed at researchers developing bioinformatics databases and tools, detailing commonly applied database formats and biology-focused scripting languages.

After the generation of genome sequence data from a wide variety of plants, databases are filled with sequence information of genes with no known biological function, and while bioinformatics tools can help analyze genome sequences and predict gene structures, experimental approaches to discover gene functions need to be widely implemented. In Plant Reverse Genetics: Methods and Protocols, leading researchers in the field describe cutting-edge methods, both high-throughput and genome-wide, involving the models Arabidopsis and rice as well as several other plants to provide comparative functional genomics information. With chapters on the analysis of high-throughput genome sequence data, the identification of non-coding RNA from sequence information, the comprehensive analysis of gene expression by microarrays, and metabolomic analysis, the thorough methods of the book are fully supported by scripts to aid their computational use. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, the chapters contain introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and essential, Plant Reverse Genetics: Methods and Protocols is an ideal guide for researchers seeking an understanding of how the complex web of plant genes work together in a systems biology view.

Plant genomics is a growing and constantly evolving field of study, one which has gained much ground in past years through the development of advanced research and data management tools. In Plant Genomics: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers explore the current issues and methodologies of this expanding field, specifically addressing areas of gene discovery and the functional analysis of genes with a focus on the primary tools and sub-disciplines of genetic mapping, mRNA, protein and metabolite profiling. Chapters employ exciting new methods to investigate molecular plant breeding technology and gene functional analysis via transformation, mutation, protein function, and gene expression. Composed in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, each chapter contains a brief introduction, step-by-step methods, a list of necessary materials, and a Notes section which shares tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and innovative, Plant Genomics: Methods and Protocols is an essential guide for all plant scientists who are interested in further studies in the area of genomics research.

Plant genomics is a growing and constantly evolving field of study, one which has gained much ground in past years through the development of advanced research and data management tools. In Plant Genomics: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers explore the current issues and methodologies of this expanding field, specifically addressing areas of gene discovery and the functional analysis of genes with a focus on the primary tools and sub-disciplines of genetic mapping, mRNA, protein and metabolite profiling. Chapters employ exciting new methods to investigate molecular plant breeding technology and gene functional analysis via transformation, mutation, protein function, and gene expression. Composed in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, each chapter contains a brief introduction, step-by-step methods, a list of necessary materials, and a Notes section which shares tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and innovative, Plant Genomics: Methods and Protocols is an essential guide for all plant scientists who are interested in further studies in the area of genomics research.