5 - Genome mapping tools: current research and future prospects

Abstract

The structure and function of every living organism in the biosphere are shaped and directed by its genome, respectively. The genome of an organism is an abode of all the genes and other DNA segments, known and yet to be known, responsible for its metabolism, survival, growth, development, interaction with the environment, defense, reproduction, senescence, etc. To exploit any species as a biological resource at molecular level to serve human kind in form of good(s) and/or service(s), primarily requires a thorough understanding of its genes and their locations in the genome. Genome mapping is a technique that aids in determining the location of genes, and/or its(or their) markers(s), of interest in relation to other gene(s), and/or its (or their) marker(s), within the genome. Since all the genes of commercial interest are nor present in the same individual/taxa, it is essential to move gene(s) of interest from available source(s) to the required target(s), which is made easy with the knowledge of genome map. Genome mapping has wider applications in modern molecular biology: from the applied areas, such as genetic improvement of organisms, to the fundamental research such as genome sequencing. It needs proper tools and techniques such as various kinds of markers and mapping populations. To choose an appropriate tool and method requires thorough knowledge of myriad basket of available genome mapping tools. This chapter brings a complete, comprehensive and updated information that is necessary to understand genome of interest and use appropriate mapping tools, such as markers and mapping populations, for mapping of genes of interest in the genome of an organism of interest, ultimately to help deriving useful product(s) and/or service(s) to meet various needs of humankind in the wake of everchanging environment and never-receding human populations. This chapter also offers future prospects of available genome mapping tools and opportunities to develop new tools in the light of advanced techniques available for DNA sequencing and rapid generation advancement of mapping populations.