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On the Cover: Pipeline Genetics
Mutant analysis is a fruitful way to identify the function of genes and uncover novel metabolic, developmental, and cellular processes. The traditional reverse genetic approach of assaying a small number of phenotypes on plants defective in one or a few genes often leads to detection of no mutant phenotype. It also limits the ability to discover broader syndromes and connections between genes. The article by Lu et al. in this issue (pp. 1482–1500) describes a study that industrializes the process of mutant screening. A functional genomics pipeline approach is described for analysis of 13 previously studied mutants and >100 wild-type plants for a wide variety of phenotypic traits. The study uncovered previously unreported phenotypes for these well-characterized mutants and unexpected associations between different physiological processes. Cover design by Chris Smith at fivethirtythree studios.