Genome comparisons and analysis.

As we enter the post-genomic era, with the accelerating availability of complete genome sequences, new theoretical approaches and new experimental techniques, our ability to dissect cellular processes at the molecular level continues to expand. Recent advances include the application of RNA interference methods to characterize loss-of-function phenotype genes in higher eukaryotes, comparative analysis of the human and mouse genome sequences, and methods for reconciling contradictory phylogenetic reconstructions. New developments feed into the increasingly rich content of databases such as the COG database. The next phase of research will be increasingly dominated by efforts to integrate the deluge of data into our understanding of biological systems.