Plant genomics takes root, branches out.

For the past nine years, an international consortium of researchers have collaborated on a project to provide a full set of genomics tools for the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana. Among the goals of this project were the complete sequence of the Arabidopsis genome, which may be completed in the year 2000, four years ahead of schedule. Arabidopsis was an appropriate choice as the first target of plant genomics because of its excellent genetics, outstanding research community and small genome size. Until very recently, it appeared that comprehensive high-throughput plant genomics in the public sector would largely begin and end with Arabidopsis. Over the past two years, this situation has changed completely.