The International Brachypodium Initiative has sequenced the genome of Brachypodium distachyon, the first member of the Pooideae subfamily to be sequenced. This genome provides a valuable resource for studying grasses, particularly for understanding the evolution of large genomes in economically important pooid grasses like wheat. The Brachypodium genome is compact, with a high-quality sequence, and is easy to cultivate and transform, making it an ideal model system for developing new energy and food crops. The genome sequence, combined with existing genetic and physical maps, allows for detailed analysis of gene families and chromosomal evolution across grass subfamilies. The genome shows a precise history of genome evolution, with a high degree of conservation of gene order and polyploidization events. The Brachypodium genome is also characterized by a high density of retrotransposons, which are concentrated at centromeres and syntenic breakpoints. The genome contains a large number of protein-coding genes, with a gene number similar to that of rice and sorghum. The genome sequence has been used to identify syntenic relationships between Brachypodium, rice, and sorghum, and to understand the evolutionary history of grasses. The Brachypodium genome has also been used to study the distribution of cell wall metabolism genes and to identify syntenic disruptions between Brachypodium and other grasses. The genome sequence has been deposited in public databases and is available for further research. The study highlights the importance of Brachypodium as a model system for grass research and its potential for improving sustainable energy and food production.The International Brachypodium Initiative has sequenced the genome of Brachypodium distachyon, the first member of the Pooideae subfamily to be sequenced. This genome provides a valuable resource for studying grasses, particularly for understanding the evolution of large genomes in economically important pooid grasses like wheat. The Brachypodium genome is compact, with a high-quality sequence, and is easy to cultivate and transform, making it an ideal model system for developing new energy and food crops. The genome sequence, combined with existing genetic and physical maps, allows for detailed analysis of gene families and chromosomal evolution across grass subfamilies. The genome shows a precise history of genome evolution, with a high degree of conservation of gene order and polyploidization events. The Brachypodium genome is also characterized by a high density of retrotransposons, which are concentrated at centromeres and syntenic breakpoints. The genome contains a large number of protein-coding genes, with a gene number similar to that of rice and sorghum. The genome sequence has been used to identify syntenic relationships between Brachypodium, rice, and sorghum, and to understand the evolutionary history of grasses. The Brachypodium genome has also been used to study the distribution of cell wall metabolism genes and to identify syntenic disruptions between Brachypodium and other grasses. The genome sequence has been deposited in public databases and is available for further research. The study highlights the importance of Brachypodium as a model system for grass research and its potential for improving sustainable energy and food production.