FROM MICROBIAL GENOMICS TO META-GENOMICS

Modern microbial genomics is best exemplified by determination of the complete nucleotide sequences of whole genomes. To date, the sequences of at least 11 nuclear genomes have been completed, with many more in progress. Most are microbial, with exceptions such as the eukaryotic genome Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Genomics, while built upon foundation s laid in the era of classical genetics, has grown by leaps and bounds because of three significant technological advances: 1) high-throughp ut sequencing and automation technology, 2) sophisticated bioinformati cs and sequence analysis tools, and 3) microarray or ''chip'' technolo gy for expression, resequencing, and polymorphism analysis. These tech nological advances have made it possible to generate massive amounts o f nucleotide sequence data from a series of random, overlapping, and r edundant clones and to assemble these data into contiguous sequences, with the final goal of elucidating complete gene structure at single n ucleotide resolution. In the immediate future, linear genomics will be replaced by functional genomics and pathogens compared on an evolutio nary scale. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.