Some plant species are capable of self-fertilization, and some are nearly exclusively self-fertilizers. This means that a plant can be both mother and father to its offspring, a rare occurrence in the animals. Scientists and hobbyists attempting to make crosses between different plants must take special measures to prevent the plants from self-fertilizing. Genomics is changing the face of biology and giving scientists the tools to crack the code of life. The early successes in plant biotechnology led to the realization that further molecular improvement of plants will require a thorough understanding of the molecular basis of plant development, and the identification and characterization of genes that regulate agronomically important multigenic traits. During the past ten years there has been a resurgence of molecular and related cellular studies in plants, including the molecular mapping of plant genomes. A great deal of interesting and useful information has been generated about the molecular basis of important plant processes. Plant genomics is a growing and constantly evolving field of study, one which has gained much ground in past years through the development of advanced research and data management tools. Comprehensive and innovative, Plant Genomics: Methods and Protocols is an essential guide for all plant scientists who are interested in further studies in the area of genomics research.
