Genomics and plant cells:: application of genomics strategies to Arabidopsis cell biology

In this review I seek to describe how the complete catalogue of plant genes and proteins, revealed by genome sequencing, can provide novel insights into cell biology. Many new analytical methods have been developed to digest the flood of genome sequence data, including analysis of the transcriptome, proteome and metabolites. High-throughput analysis of protein targeting and other methods will ascribe new information to proteins and create important links with other large datasets. To fulfil the potential revealed by this genomic information, many challenges have to be met. Among these are organizational changes needed to create common datasets accessible to all scientists, and bioinformatics solutions to capture and integrate diverse datasets. Once harnessed, these new strategies will irrevocably change the way we conduct plant science.