Completion of rice genome sequencing - a paradigm shift of rice biology

The ultimate goal of the international rice genome sequencing consortium has been successfully realized with the completion of the entire rice genome sequence in 2004. An accurate sequence totaling 370 Mbp of the japonica rice cultivar Nipponbare corresponding to 95% of the entire genome is now publicly available. Comprehensive analysis of the sequence has revealed some unique features of the rice genome. Together with other rice genomics resources, this map-based sequence will revolutionize rice biology with the rapid identification of genes responsible for many agronomic traits, genome-wide comparison with other rice species and cereal crops, and establishment of new breeding methods based on DNA markers.