Copying out our ABCs - the role of gene redundancy in interpreting genetichierarchies

The complete sequence of the Arabidopsis genome is scheduled to be determin ed by the end of the year 2000, While this goal could prove to be something of a moving target (the estimated size of the genome has grown from 120 Mb to 130 Mb over the last year(1)), it is clear that the majority of genes r equired for higher plant growth, reproduction and development will have bee n described within this time frame. Some of the implications of this landma rk achievement are already becoming dear, even though less than a half of t he genome has been sequenced.