Transcript Katie-Arabidopsis

Arabidopsis thaliana
Katie Dalpozzo
Model Organism
• Small (20 cm),unremarkable spindly weed,
with tiny, white, four-petalled flowers
• Six week lifespan
• No immediate agricultural importance and is
not thought to cure any disease
• Prolific seed production and easy cultivation
in restricted space
• A large number of mutant lines and genomic
resources
Genome
• 5 chromosomes, 25, 498 genes, and 140
million bases
– Smallest genome of any plant
• First complete genome sequence of a
plant
• Useful plant-specific gene functions for
crop enhancement
– Grow crops in salty or metallic soils or in
very cold or hot climates
Sequence
• Sequenced by Arabidopsis Genome
Initiative (AGI)
Started in 1996, planned to finish by
2004, but actually finished in 2000
• Current and future research done
by The Arabidopsis Information
Resource (TAIR)
• 8,811 articles on Arabidopsis