Next-generation sequencing technologies: opportunities and obligations in plant genomics

Abstract

The year 2003 marked the completion of the Human Genome Project. In the ∼9 years since then, genomics has become a vital tool for biomedical research and a driver for improved human health. An often ignored component of human health is plant-derived human nutrition. Plant and agricultural genomics have benefited from many of the same drivers leading technical advances in the development and application in human genomics. The most disruptive technological advance has been a doubling of sequencing data output on an average of every 5 months and has resulted in a freefall in cost per DNA base sequenced [1]. One recalls when it was acceptable to submit, review and publish RNA-sequencing manuscripts in prestigious scientific journals with zero biological or technical replicates because the cost was prohibitive. We soon arrive at the point where it requires less resource to re-sequence the genome or repeat the sequence data generation or expression profiling experiment than to simply store and manage the data. The articles assembled for this Special Issue address current trends and applications along with opportunities and challenges in the use of next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) technologies in plant genomics research.