%0 Journal Article
%T SNP Discovery through Next-Generation Sequencing and Its Applications
%A Santosh Kumar
%A Travis W. Banks
%A Sylvie Cloutier
%J International Journal of Plant Genomics
%D 2012
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2012/831460
%X The decreasing cost along with rapid progress in next-generation sequencing and related bioinformatics computing resources has facilitated large-scale discovery of SNPs in various model and nonmodel plant species. Large numbers and genome-wide availability of SNPs make them the marker of choice in partially or completely sequenced genomes. Although excellent reviews have been published on next-generation sequencing, its associated bioinformatics challenges, and the applications of SNPs in genetic studies, a comprehensive review connecting these three intertwined research areas is needed. This paper touches upon various aspects of SNP discovery, highlighting key points in availability and selection of appropriate sequencing platforms, bioinformatics pipelines, SNP filtering criteria, and applications of SNPs in genetic analyses. The use of next-generation sequencing methodologies in many non-model crops leading to discovery and implementation of SNPs in various genetic studies is discussed. Development and improvement of bioinformatics software that are open source and freely available have accelerated the SNP discovery while reducing the associated cost. Key considerations for SNP filtering and associated pipelines are discussed in specific topics. A list of commonly used software and their sources is compiled for easy access and reference. 1. Introduction Molecular markers are widely used in plant genetic research and breeding. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) are currently the marker of choice due to their large numbers in virtually all populations of individuals. The applications of SNP markers have clearly been demonstrated in human genomics where complete sequencing of the human genome led to the discovery of several million SNPs [1] and technologies to analyze large sets of SNPs (up to 1 million) have been developed. SNPs have been applied in areas as diverse as human forensics [2] and diagnostics [3], aquaculture [4], marker assisted-breeding of dairy cattle [5], crop improvement [6], conservation [7], and resource management in fisheries [8]. Functional genomic studies have capitalized upon SNPs located within regulatory genes, transcripts, and Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) [9, 10]. Until recently large scale SNP discovery in plants was limited to maize, Arabidopsis, and rice [11¨C15]. Genetic applications such as linkage mapping, population structure, association studies, map-based cloning, marker-assisted plant breeding, and functional genomics continue to be enabled by access to large collections of SNPs. Arabidopsis thaliana was the
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijpg/2012/831460/