The International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP) has produced a high-quality, map-based sequence of the rice genome (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica cv. Nipponbare), covering 95% of the 389 Mb genome. This sequence includes virtually all euchromatin and two complete centromeres, and contains 37,544 non-transposable-element-related protein-coding genes, with 71% having a putative homologue in Arabidopsis. The sequence has been used to identify genes underlying agronomic traits and to discover single-nucleotide polymorphisms and simple sequence repeats that can accelerate improvements in rice production. The rice genome is the smallest of the major cereals, with a genome size of 389 Mb. It contains 37,544 protein-coding genes, with a lower gene density than Arabidopsis. The genome has a high proportion of transposable elements, with at least 35% of the genome being transposable elements. The sequence has revealed extensive genome colinearity among the Poaceae family, establishing rice as a model organism for cereal grasses. The sequence has also revealed evidence of widespread and recurrent gene transfer from organelles to nuclear chromosomes. The IRGSP has generated a high-quality map-based draft sequence of the rice genome, which has been used to identify genes underlying agronomic traits and to discover single-nucleotide polymorphisms and simple sequence repeats that can accelerate improvements in rice production. The sequence has also revealed the presence of organellar DNA fragments in the nuclear genome, representing repeated and ongoing transfer of organellar DNA to the nuclear genome. The rice genome has been sequenced using a hierarchical clone-by-clone method with bacterial and P1 artificial chromosome clones. The sequence has been used to construct pseudomolecules representing the 12 chromosomes of rice. The sequence has also revealed the presence of centromere-specific retrotransposons and the CentO satellite DNA in rice centromeres. The rice genome contains a large number of tandem gene families, with 29% of the 37,544 predicted genes appearing in clustered gene families. The genome also contains a large number of non-coding RNA genes, including 763 transfer RNA genes and 215 small nucleolar RNA genes. The genome also contains a large number of microRNAs, which are believed to regulate gene expression by interacting with target messenger RNA. The rice genome has been found to contain a significant number of transposable elements, with at least 35% of the genome being transposable elements. The sequence has also revealed that the transposon content of rice is at least 35% and is populated by representatives from all known transposon superfamilies. The rice genome has been found to contain a large number of sequence polymorphisms between the two cultivated rice subsThe International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP) has produced a high-quality, map-based sequence of the rice genome (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica cv. Nipponbare), covering 95% of the 389 Mb genome. This sequence includes virtually all euchromatin and two complete centromeres, and contains 37,544 non-transposable-element-related protein-coding genes, with 71% having a putative homologue in Arabidopsis. The sequence has been used to identify genes underlying agronomic traits and to discover single-nucleotide polymorphisms and simple sequence repeats that can accelerate improvements in rice production. The rice genome is the smallest of the major cereals, with a genome size of 389 Mb. It contains 37,544 protein-coding genes, with a lower gene density than Arabidopsis. The genome has a high proportion of transposable elements, with at least 35% of the genome being transposable elements. The sequence has revealed extensive genome colinearity among the Poaceae family, establishing rice as a model organism for cereal grasses. The sequence has also revealed evidence of widespread and recurrent gene transfer from organelles to nuclear chromosomes. The IRGSP has generated a high-quality map-based draft sequence of the rice genome, which has been used to identify genes underlying agronomic traits and to discover single-nucleotide polymorphisms and simple sequence repeats that can accelerate improvements in rice production. The sequence has also revealed the presence of organellar DNA fragments in the nuclear genome, representing repeated and ongoing transfer of organellar DNA to the nuclear genome. The rice genome has been sequenced using a hierarchical clone-by-clone method with bacterial and P1 artificial chromosome clones. The sequence has been used to construct pseudomolecules representing the 12 chromosomes of rice. The sequence has also revealed the presence of centromere-specific retrotransposons and the CentO satellite DNA in rice centromeres. The rice genome contains a large number of tandem gene families, with 29% of the 37,544 predicted genes appearing in clustered gene families. The genome also contains a large number of non-coding RNA genes, including 763 transfer RNA genes and 215 small nucleolar RNA genes. The genome also contains a large number of microRNAs, which are believed to regulate gene expression by interacting with target messenger RNA. The rice genome has been found to contain a significant number of transposable elements, with at least 35% of the genome being transposable elements. The sequence has also revealed that the transposon content of rice is at least 35% and is populated by representatives from all known transposon superfamilies. The rice genome has been found to contain a large number of sequence polymorphisms between the two cultivated rice subs