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Several new initiatives have been launched recently to sequence conifer genomes including pines, spruces and Douglas-fir. Owing to the very large genome sizes ranging from 18 to 35 gigabases, sequencing even a single conifer genome had been considered unattainable until the recent throughput increases and cost reductions afforded by next generation sequencers. The purpose of this review is to describe the context for these new initiatives. A knowledge foundation has been acquired in several conifers of commercial and ecological interest through large-scale cDNA analyses, construction of genetic maps and gene mapping studies aiming to link phenotype and genotype. Exploratory sequencing in pines and spruces have pointed out some of the unique properties of these giga-genomes and suggested strategies that may be needed to extract value from their sequencing. The hope is that recent and pending developments in sequencing technology will contribute to rapidly filling the knowledge vacuum surrounding their structure, contents and evolution. Researchers are also making plans to use comparative analyses that will help to turn the data into a valuable resource for enhancing and protecting the world's conifer forests.

Original publication

DOI

10.1007/s11103-012-9961-7

Type

Journal article

Journal

Plant Mol Biol

Publication Date

12/2012

Volume

80

Pages

555 - 569

Keywords

Breeding, Chromosome Mapping, Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial, Coniferophyta, Gene Expression Profiling, Genetic Association Studies, Genome, Plant, Genomics, Multigene Family, Plant Proteins, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Quantitative Trait Loci, RNA, Plant, RNA, Small Untranslated, Transcriptome