The Future of Plant Genomes. Harvesting Genes for Agriculture

Breakthroughs in cutting-edge sequencing tools have led to a drastic reduction in economic and human-resources costs, which opens up infinite possibilities for sequencing and analyzing genome characteristics of both animal and plant species. The focus of genome studies has changed radically, moving from analyzing small unique sequences to sequencing hundreds of whole individuals.

Nowadays it is possible to obtain abundant data on some plant genomes and through careful analysis this will lead to extraordinary biological breakthroughs, particularly in comparative genomics, genomic evolution and knowledge regarding gene expression and function.

The aim of these debates, coorganized by B·Debate and CRAG, is to bring together the most highly recognized international experts in different fields of plant genomics to share their latest finding, to identify new challenges and opportunities for the future in the analysis of crop genomes, and to design new applications for improvement, like developing new higher-yield varietals that are more resistant to pathogens and stress or strains adapted to specific environmental conditions, among others.