Trends in comparative genetics and their potential impacts on wheat and barley research

We review some general points about comparative mapping, the evolution of gene families and recent advances in the understanding of angiosperm phylogeny. These are considered in relation to studies of large-genome cereals, particularly barley (Hordeum vulgare) and wheat (Triticum aestivum), with reference to methods of gene isolation. The relative merits of direct map-based cloning in barley and wheat, utilization of the smaller genome of rice (Oryza sativa) and gene homology methods that utilize information from model species such as Arabidopsis thaliana are briefly discussed.