title: Insights into conifer giga-genomes.
abstract: Insights from sequenced genomes of major land plant lineages have advanced research in almost every aspect of plant biology. Until recently, however, assembled genome sequences of gymnosperms have been missing from this picture. Conifers of the pine family (Pinaceae) are a group of gymnosperms that dominate large parts of the world's forests. Despite their ecological and economic importance, conifers seemed long out of reach for complete genome sequencing, due in part to their enormous genome size (20-30 Gb) and the highly repetitive nature of their genomes. Technological advances in genome sequencing and assembly enabled the recent publication of three conifer genomes: white spruce (Picea glauca), Norway spruce (Picea abies), and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). These genome sequences revealed distinctive features compared with other plant genomes and may represent a window into the past of seed plant genomes. This Update highlights recent advances, remaining challenges, and opportunities in light of the publication of the first conifer and gymnosperm genomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (A.R.D.L.T., P.K.I.) and Umeå Plant Science Center, Department of Plant Physiology (P.K.I., S.J., O.N., N.S.), Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden;Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4S6 (I.B., S.J.M.J.);Canada Research Chair in Forest and Environmental Genomics (J.Bou.) and Center for Forest Research and Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology (J.Bou., J.M.), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0A6;Michael Smith Laboratories (C.I.K., P.Z., J.Boh.) and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences (K.R., J.Boh.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4; andBritish Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9C2 (A.Y.).
authors.forename: Amanda R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: De La Torre
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (A.R.D.L.T., P.K.I.) and Umeå Plant Science Center, Department of Plant Physiology (P.K.I., S.J., O.N., N.S.), Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden;Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4S6 (I.B., S.J.M.J.);Canada Research Chair in Forest and Environmental Genomics (J.Bou.) and Center for Forest Research and Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology (J.Bou., J.M.), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0A6;Michael Smith Laboratories (C.I.K., P.Z., J.Boh.) and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences (K.R., J.Boh.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4; andBritish Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9C2 (A.Y.).
authors.forename: Inanc
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Birol
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (A.R.D.L.T., P.K.I.) and Umeå Plant Science Center, Department of Plant Physiology (P.K.I., S.J., O.N., N.S.), Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden;Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4S6 (I.B., S.J.M.J.);Canada Research Chair in Forest and Environmental Genomics (J.Bou.) and Center for Forest Research and Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology (J.Bou., J.M.), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0A6;Michael Smith Laboratories (C.I.K., P.Z., J.Boh.) and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences (K.R., J.Boh.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4; andBritish Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9C2 (A.Y.).
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bousquet
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (A.R.D.L.T., P.K.I.) and Umeå Plant Science Center, Department of Plant Physiology (P.K.I., S.J., O.N., N.S.), Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden;Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4S6 (I.B., S.J.M.J.);Canada Research Chair in Forest and Environmental Genomics (J.Bou.) and Center for Forest Research and Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology (J.Bou., J.M.), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0A6;Michael Smith Laboratories (C.I.K., P.Z., J.Boh.) and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences (K.R., J.Boh.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4; andBritish Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9C2 (A.Y.).
authors.forename: Pär K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Ingvarsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (A.R.D.L.T., P.K.I.) and Umeå Plant Science Center, Department of Plant Physiology (P.K.I., S.J., O.N., N.S.), Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden;Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4S6 (I.B., S.J.M.J.);Canada Research Chair in Forest and Environmental Genomics (J.Bou.) and Center for Forest Research and Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology (J.Bou., J.M.), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0A6;Michael Smith Laboratories (C.I.K., P.Z., J.Boh.) and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences (K.R., J.Boh.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4; andBritish Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9C2 (A.Y.).
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jansson
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (A.R.D.L.T., P.K.I.) and Umeå Plant Science Center, Department of Plant Physiology (P.K.I., S.J., O.N., N.S.), Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden;Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4S6 (I.B., S.J.M.J.);Canada Research Chair in Forest and Environmental Genomics (J.Bou.) and Center for Forest Research and Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology (J.Bou., J.M.), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0A6;Michael Smith Laboratories (C.I.K., P.Z., J.Boh.) and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences (K.R., J.Boh.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4; andBritish Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9C2 (A.Y.).
authors.forename: Steven J M
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (A.R.D.L.T., P.K.I.) and Umeå Plant Science Center, Department of Plant Physiology (P.K.I., S.J., O.N., N.S.), Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden;Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4S6 (I.B., S.J.M.J.);Canada Research Chair in Forest and Environmental Genomics (J.Bou.) and Center for Forest Research and Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology (J.Bou., J.M.), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0A6;Michael Smith Laboratories (C.I.K., P.Z., J.Boh.) and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences (K.R., J.Boh.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4; andBritish Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9C2 (A.Y.).
authors.forename: Christopher I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Keeling
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (A.R.D.L.T., P.K.I.) and Umeå Plant Science Center, Department of Plant Physiology (P.K.I., S.J., O.N., N.S.), Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden;Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4S6 (I.B., S.J.M.J.);Canada Research Chair in Forest and Environmental Genomics (J.Bou.) and Center for Forest Research and Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology (J.Bou., J.M.), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0A6;Michael Smith Laboratories (C.I.K., P.Z., J.Boh.) and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences (K.R., J.Boh.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4; andBritish Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9C2 (A.Y.).
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: MacKay
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (A.R.D.L.T., P.K.I.) and Umeå Plant Science Center, Department of Plant Physiology (P.K.I., S.J., O.N., N.S.), Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden;Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4S6 (I.B., S.J.M.J.);Canada Research Chair in Forest and Environmental Genomics (J.Bou.) and Center for Forest Research and Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology (J.Bou., J.M.), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0A6;Michael Smith Laboratories (C.I.K., P.Z., J.Boh.) and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences (K.R., J.Boh.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4; andBritish Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9C2 (A.Y.).
authors.forename: Ove
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (A.R.D.L.T., P.K.I.) and Umeå Plant Science Center, Department of Plant Physiology (P.K.I., S.J., O.N., N.S.), Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden;Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4S6 (I.B., S.J.M.J.);Canada Research Chair in Forest and Environmental Genomics (J.Bou.) and Center for Forest Research and Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology (J.Bou., J.M.), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0A6;Michael Smith Laboratories (C.I.K., P.Z., J.Boh.) and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences (K.R., J.Boh.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4; andBritish Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9C2 (A.Y.).
authors.forename: Kermit
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ritland
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (A.R.D.L.T., P.K.I.) and Umeå Plant Science Center, Department of Plant Physiology (P.K.I., S.J., O.N., N.S.), Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden;Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4S6 (I.B., S.J.M.J.);Canada Research Chair in Forest and Environmental Genomics (J.Bou.) and Center for Forest Research and Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology (J.Bou., J.M.), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0A6;Michael Smith Laboratories (C.I.K., P.Z., J.Boh.) and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences (K.R., J.Boh.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4; andBritish Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9C2 (A.Y.).
authors.forename: Nathaniel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Street
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (A.R.D.L.T., P.K.I.) and Umeå Plant Science Center, Department of Plant Physiology (P.K.I., S.J., O.N., N.S.), Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden;Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4S6 (I.B., S.J.M.J.);Canada Research Chair in Forest and Environmental Genomics (J.Bou.) and Center for Forest Research and Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology (J.Bou., J.M.), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0A6;Michael Smith Laboratories (C.I.K., P.Z., J.Boh.) and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences (K.R., J.Boh.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4; andBritish Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9C2 (A.Y.).
authors.forename: Alvin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yanchuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (A.R.D.L.T., P.K.I.) and Umeå Plant Science Center, Department of Plant Physiology (P.K.I., S.J., O.N., N.S.), Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden;Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4S6 (I.B., S.J.M.J.);Canada Research Chair in Forest and Environmental Genomics (J.Bou.) and Center for Forest Research and Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology (J.Bou., J.M.), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0A6;Michael Smith Laboratories (C.I.K., P.Z., J.Boh.) and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences (K.R., J.Boh.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4; andBritish Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9C2 (A.Y.).
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zerbe
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (A.R.D.L.T., P.K.I.) and Umeå Plant Science Center, Department of Plant Physiology (P.K.I., S.J., O.N., N.S.), Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden;Genome Sciences Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4S6 (I.B., S.J.M.J.);Canada Research Chair in Forest and Environmental Genomics (J.Bou.) and Center for Forest Research and Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology (J.Bou., J.M.), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0A6;Michael Smith Laboratories (C.I.K., P.Z., J.Boh.) and Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences (K.R., J.Boh.), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4; andBritish Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9C2 (A.Y.) bohlmann@msl.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bohlmann
mesh_terms: D065928:Forests; D018745:Genome, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D028222:Picea / Q000235:genetics*; D028223:Pinus / Q000235:genetics*; D064028:Tracheophyta / Q000235:genetics*