Why Determine the DNA Sequence of a Fungal Genome?
The information encoded in the genomic DNA of an organism contains the entire repertoire of the organism’s metabolic and developmental capacity – everything that it can do or become. It represents the pinnacle of an organism’s evolutionary growth over eons of history, where variation induced by mutation has been refined in the crucible of evolution. By determining the sequence of a genome, all of the proteins encoded by the organism can be identified and all of the developmental and metabolic potential of an organism becomes available for manipulation both in that organism and, potentially, for re-engineering in any other organism. The initial key to this treasury of informat! ion is the DNA sequence. • Fungal genomes, although containing a metabolic potential of staggering diversity, are small and well within the reach of current DNA sequencing technologies. The entire genomic DNA sequence has now been determined for several bacteria and for baker’s yeast. Filamentous fungal genomes r
