This branch of science is called genomics, and refers to a study of the genome or the entire set of genes of an animal, plant or microorganism. DNA and the genes within the DNA strand are made up of building blocks called bases. The order of these bases represents the DNA sequence. Research is underway to determine the sequence of several plants such as barley, wheat, and a plant commonly used in research, called Arabidopsis thaliana. The first working draft of the rice genome, which provides the most extensive understanding of all twelve chromosomes of the rice, has been developed.
Rice is the first crop to be sequenced in such detail.
Rice has the smallest genome of the major cereals which include corn, wheat, rye, barley, oats, millet and sorghum. An understanding of the genes involved in these characteristics can lead to the development of improved types of rice through breeding or other methods of genetic modification. Rice also serves as a model for genome sequencing of other cereals. Knowing the location of a gene in rice can help find similar genes in other crops such as corn and wheat. The international project was established because of the tremendous resources required to complete this task, and the understanding that it could be completed sooner if researchers from around the world collaborated on the project.