International Collaboration in Plant Genome Sequencing
The Physcomitrella patens genome sequencing project exemplifies an international plant science collaboration, involving laboratories from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. Led by Ralph Quatrano, Ph.D., from Washington University, this project is supported by the Community Sequencing Program of the U.S. Department of Energy. It focuses on creating a comprehensive molecular, genetic, and physical map of the moss genome, using comparative genomics approaches to explore gene function and plant evolution. The initiative is a triumph in international plant science, integrating expertise to accelerate understanding and manipulation of plant genomes.