Author
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Tobias, Christian |
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Submitted to: The Plant Genome
Publication Type: Review Article Publication Acceptance Date: 3/18/2009 Publication Date: 3/18/2009 Citation: Tobias, C.M. 2009. A GENOME MAY REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT. The Plant Genome. 2:5-8. Interpretive Summary: With the costs of sequencing rapidly decreasing, and with the infrastructure now developed for almost anyone with access to a computer to cheaply store, access and analyze sequence information, emphasis will increasingly be placed on ways to apply genome data to real world problems such as reducing dependency on fossil fuel. For the efficient production of bioenergy, this may be accomplished through development of improved feedstocks. This article considers more closely the impact of very cheap sequence data (approximately 1USD per genome) on improvement of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a perennial grass well suited to biomass production. Technical Abstract: Cheap sequence information will place new emphasis on comparative approaches to mining the data for sequence alterations that lead to physiological contrasts between groups. The data will need to be accessible and coupled with phenotypic data to be made useful for breeders. Increased emphasis on bioinformatics, quantitative genetics and statistics and other cross disciplinary skills will be required. High throughput precision phenotyping and rapid cycling of generations will help leverage sequence information directly for very refined plant breeding approaches. |
