Features of Arabidopsis thaliana Suitable for Molecular Genetics
- Small size of the mature plant ( < 30 cm in height)
- Short generation time (5-6 weeks)
- Small size of the haploid genome (approx. 120 Mbp)
- "botanical Drosophila" by R. O. Whyte (1946)
- 5 chromosomes and a low level of dispersed repetitive DNA
- Easy maintenance of pure lines through self
pollination
- Easy crossing
- Available DNA-mediated transformation
- Availability of refined maps of loci and markers
- Availability of nucleotide sequences of the nuclear genome
- The entire sequences were determined in 2000.
- The Multinational Coordinated Arabidopsis thaliana Genome Research Project
ARABIDOPSIS EATABLE? 
