Filling the gaps in the genomic landscape.docVIP

Williams et al. Genome Biology 2010,11:103 /2010/11/2/103 RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT Filling the gaps in the genomic landscape David Williams , J Peter Gogarten* and Pascal Lapierre 1 1 2 Genome content and diversity Abstract During the past decade, our understanding of evolution at the genomic level has been shaken to its core by many reports showing that genomes from closely related species can vary greatly in terms of gene content. e rapid alteration of gene content in genomes was ?rst demon- strated by Welch et al. [2], with the comparison of three A new initiative provides comparative genomicists with a more complete picture of genome diversity. Here we discuss the improved sampling strategy. e relentless progress in sequencing technology strains of Escherichia coli. ey found that only about 39% continues to open up new opportunities for biologists. Since surveys of the ?rst complete genetic code of single of the non-overlapping set of genes were present in all three strains, leaving the majority of the genes to have either been organisms only 15 years ago, ?ndings from comparative gained through gene transfers and internal duplication, or genomics are now commonplace thanks to the more than lost along the evolutionary path of the di?erent strains. e 1,000 sequenced genomes available. Among the most extreme plasticity of genome composition is illustrated by striking discoveries is the high level of variation in gene the comparison of genomes from three Frankia strains, a content between closely related microbial strains. class of nitrogen-?xing soil bacteria whose members form However, a representative sample of genomes from symbiotic relationships with actinorhizal plants [3]. It was cultured bacteria