Genomic approaches to analyzing natural variation in Arabidopsis thaliana

The genomics tools available for studying Arabidopsis thaliana are a great resource for researchers trying to characterize and understand the genetic basis of natural variation. Abundant polymorphic markers aid quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, the fully sequenced genome provides rapid identification of candidate loci, and extensive knockout collections allow those candidate loci to be tested. Combining QTL mapping of classic phenotypic traits with biochemical or expression analysis is providing mechanistic insight into the traits of interest. Conversely, natural variation studies are now being done on genomic traits such as methylation or chiasma frequency.