Editorial overview: Genome studies and molecular genetics

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Reconstructing and recombining plant genomes

Recent improvements in sequencing technologies will soon allow individual research groups to sequence and assemble genomes of interest, regardless of sequence complexity. Jiao and Schneeberger review new technologies, such as optical mapping and chromosome conformation capture, that can be used to advance integration of physical and genetic maps, achieving simple and cost-effective chromosomal-level assemblies. Puchta reviews the revolutionary application of new gene editing technologies for

Plant evolution: domestication and adaptation

Flood and Hancock provide an overview on recent comparative approaches that study the genomic basis of adaptive evolution in plants. As sessile organisms, plants are strongly influenced by environmental selective pressures, including ‘artificial’ selection on agricultural traits. The genomic footprints of these influences can be used to unravel modes of adaptation in wild and domesticated species. Pankin and von Korff use barley as an example to review recent studies that have deciphered the

Epigenomics: functional modification and organization of chromatin

Seymour and Becker review recent studies on DNA cytosine methylation in model and crop plant species, highlighting its role in epigenetic variation within populations and its effects on transcription. Bewick and Schmitz review new understanding of the role of enigmatic gene body methylation (gbM), which has been advanced by widespread epigenomic sequencing of diverse plant species, in addition to mechanistic studies in model plants. A major role for DNA methylation in plant genomes is to

Microbial genomics and diversity

Kroll et al. report on recent studies describing interactions between plants and their associated microorganisms, and how this can be utilized in plant breeding. They review genomic studies focused on communal assemblies of microbes and how they are supported and used by the host plant, highlighting the great importance of these processes for plant performance. In a second review on microbial genomics, Tirichine et al. summarize genomic analyses of oceanic diatoms (phytoplankton). Diatom

Summary

Genomic technologies will continue to drive understanding of plant and microbial species diversity, adaptation and evolution. Plant and bacterial genomes have been a rich source of fundamental discoveries. For example, mobile transposable elements were first understood using maize genetics, and the CRISPR/Cas9 revolution has emerged from work on bacterial immunity and genome-studies. Hence, further application of genomic technologies in plants and microbes will almost certainly yield exciting

Korbinian Schneeberger’s group focuses on computational genomics. The lab develops and applies new computational methods for the assembly and analysis of plant genomes and their structures, from small to large and from haploids to polyploids. Current research includes data integration from different technologies enabling push-button chromosome-scale assemblies, and comparison of population-scale assemblies.

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Korbinian Schneeberger’s group focuses on computational genomics. The lab develops and applies new computational methods for the assembly and analysis of plant genomes and their structures, from small to large and from haploids to polyploids. Current research includes data integration from different technologies enabling push-button chromosome-scale assemblies, and comparison of population-scale assemblies.

Ian Henderson’s group researches control of meiotic recombination in plant genomes. They focus on genetic and epigenetic influences on recombination, for example by exploring the effects of natural sequence polymorphisms, or mutations in DNA or histone-modifying enzymes. The group primarily measures crossovers using experimental genetics, but is increasingly using genomics to profile the distributions of meiotic factors and the outcomes of recombination.

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