Arabidopsis (Thale cress)

Model plant used by geneticists

Arabidopsis is used as a model organism for plant genetics research - just as the mouse is used as a model organism in mammalian research.

Arabidopsis is a member of the mustard familiy  (Brassicaceae), related to rapeseed, cress, cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage. The Arabidopsis genome is one of the smallest known plant genomes, consisting of only five chromosomes with about 25,000 genes. Genomes of other plants dwarf that of Arabidopsis.

Arabidopsis has several properties that make it well suited for research:

• Short generation time (approx. 6 weeks from sowing to seed ripening),

• Abundant seed production

• Requires no special care

• Small genome size

• Many mutants for research (available in so-called "stock centres" since 1991)

The first genetic transformation of Arabidopsis with Agrobacterium was published in 1986.

Near the end of 2000, the Arabidopsis genome became the first plant genome to be completely sequenced thanks to the combined efforts of several research institutes.