Research involving plant genome mapping may lead to producing higher crop yields or developing plants that better adapt to climate change. Genome mapping can be used in a variety of other applications, such as using live microbes to clean up pollutants or even prevent pollution. Human genome maps help researchers in their efforts to identify human disease-causing genes related to illnesses like cancer, heart disease, and cystic fibrosis. Having a complete map of the genome makes it easier for researchers to study individual genes. Both genetic linkage maps and physical maps are required to build a complete picture of the genome. A physical map is a representation of the physical distance, in nucleotides, between genes or genetic markers. Physical maps present the intimate details of smaller regions of the chromosomes (similar to a detailed road map). Early geneticists called this linkage analysis. A genetic marker is a gene or sequence on a chromosome that co-segregates (shows genetic linkage) with a specific trait. Genetic maps provide the big picture (similar to a map of interstate highways) and use genetic markers (similar to landmarks). A genetic map is an illustration that lists genes and their location on a chromosome. The maps created by genome mapping are comparable to the maps that we use to navigate streets. Genome mapping is the process of finding the locations of genes on each chromosome. Genomics is the study of entire genomes, including the complete set of genes, their nucleotide sequence and organization, and their interactions within a species and with other species.

Gene mapping techniques