Genetics in Genomic Era
Genetics is a relatively young science compared to many other fields in biology, for example, evolutionary biology or physiology. However, genetics is a central theme in many fields, especially the medical sciences, because genetic studies can provide explanations and may even allow predictions to be made, in the context of a range of biological problems including the field of inherited human disorders. This has become especially important during the last decade as we have entered the " genomic era. " With the dramatic improvement of sequencing technologies and the enormous reduction in the cost of sequencing, biologists are faced with a " data avalanche. " Next generation whole exome or genome sequencing has provided us with an arsenal of tools to study human, animal, and plant genetics. The underlying genetic lesions responsible for Mendelian diseases may now be found and mapped with even a limited number (as few as one) of affected individuals (rare and neglected diseases), with the help of large quantities of " control " genome data such as those emanating from the 1000 Genomes Project. Genomic data analysis may also be useful for the dissection of the genetic mechanisms underlying complex polygenic diseases or in exploring the role of modifiers genes in influencing the age of onset or clinical severity of a given Mendelian disease entity. Although we have acquired new research capabilities, we are also encountering new problems with the analysis of genomic data and the reanalysis of already published (deposited in databases) data. Such problems of genomic data presentation, format, sharing, and reanalysis are now starting to be addressed. This special issue is dedicated to problems of genetics in the genomic era and comprises five articles: three review articles and two research articles. In the first review article, entitled " Unlimited Thirst for Genome Sequencing, Data Interpretation, and Database Usage in Genomic Era: The Road towards Fast-Track Crop Plant Improvement, " A. P. Dhanapal and M. Govindaraj discuss the use of crop plant databases in advancing research in the genomic era. The major focus of this review is to provide knowledge on platforms for comparative genomics of agriculturally important crop plants with industrial and environmental significance. Recent advances in sequencing and resequencing of plant genomes have potentiated new analyses of genomic variation and gene function. Genetic variation databases could facilitate research that helps to improve the efficiency of plant breeding programs. This review should aid …