T. Ryan Gregory
Nature Reviews Genetics, in press.
Summary
Until recently, the study of individual DNA sequences and of total DNA content sat at opposite ends of the spectrum in genome biology. For gene sequencers, the vast stretches of non-coding DNA found in eukaryotic genomes were largely considered to be an annoyance, whereas genome size researchers attributed little relevance to specific nucleotide sequences. However, the dawn of comprehensive genome sequencing has enabled a new synergy between these fields, with sequence data providing novel insights into genome size evolution, and genome size data being of both practical and theoretical significance for large-scale sequence analysis. In combination, these formerly disconnected disciplines are poised to deliver a greatly improved understanding of genome structure and evolution.