Unravelling gene function through mutagenesis

Abstract

In recent years, plant research has received a significant boost, partly due to the huge amount of data derived from the sequencing projects of some genomes, especially those obtained in the model system Arabidopsis thaliana. The use of this crucifer in many plant biology laboratories all over the world, together with the development of new technologies, have considerably increased research resources for dissecting gene function. Forward and reverse genetic approaches are still fundamental for assessing gene function through the isolation and characterization of mutants. In this chapter, we first take an overview, using Arabidopsis as a reference, of the methodologies and procedures used to infer gene function in plants through mutagenesis screens and look at how high-throughput analysis of gene-indexed mutant collections is contributing to assessing plant gene function on a genomic scale. We then discuss the forward and reverse genetic approaches currently used in crops for understanding gene function, highlighting the importance of mutagenesis as a basis for generating useful genetic variants and its significance for crop improvement. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.