Arabidopsis thaliana

1
Arabidopsis thaliana

• Katie Dalpozzo

2
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

3
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

4
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