From plant genomics to-omics technologies

The new technologies for DNA and RNA sequencing have made it possible to identify and analyse individual transcripts and differentially spliced isoforms at a relatively low cost. Several plant genomes are now known, as is the genome output: a multitude of transcripts. Studies are ongoing to understand what their function is and to locate their products in networks and pathways. One useful tool applied for this purpose is RNA silencing. Antisense RNA is one of the gene knock-out technologies that are used in cell and tissue cultures as well as in whole plants. Novel applications and the production of transgenic plants and trees require surveillance of the positive and negative effects on the environment and on life biodiversity in general that may result from their introduction. © 2013 Woodhead Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.