And then there were many: MADS goes genomic.
During the past decade, MADS-box genes have become known as key regulators in both reproductive and vegetative plant development. Traditional genetics and functional genomics tools are now available to elucidate the expression and function of this complex gene family on a much larger scale. Moreover, comparative analysis of the MADS-box genes in diverse flowering and non-flowering plants, boosted by bioinformatics, contributes to our understanding of how this important gene family has expanded during the evolution of land plants. Therefore, the recent advances in comparative and functional genomics should enable researchers to identify the full range of MADS-box gene functions, which should help us significantly in developing a better understanding of plant development and evolution.
De Bodt
Stefanie
S
Department of Plant Systems Biology, Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.
Raes
Jeroen
J
Van de Peer
Yves
Y
Theissen
Günter
G
D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics; D017343:Genes, Plant; D023281:Genomics; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*
D026161:MADS Domain Proteins