二穗短柄草
二穗短柄草（Brachypodium distachyon）是地中海和中东的一种本地野生草本，现在其基因组已完成测序。这是具有重要经济价值的早熟禾亚科基因组被测序的第一个成员（这个亚科的成员还包括小麦和大麦）。
用短柄草、水稻和高粱基因组进行的比较基因组研究，为了解草本基因组演化提供了线索，并且还将有助于将来对大的、复杂的基因组（如小麦的基因组）进行分析。这个基因组序列的获得应有助于将易于培育、适于基因操纵的短柄草确立为开发新能源作物和粮食作物的模型。
原始出处：
Nature 463, 763-768 (11 February 2010) | doi:10.1038/nature08747
Genome sequencing and analysis of the model grass Brachypodium distachyon
The International Brachypodium Initiative
Three subfamilies of grasses, the Ehrhartoideae, Panicoideae and Pooideae, provide the bulk of human nutrition and are poised to become major sources of renewable energy. Here we describe the genome sequence of the wild grass Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium), which is, to our knowledge, the first member of the Pooideae subfamily to be sequenced. Comparison of the Brachypodium, rice and sorghum genomes shows a precise history of genome evolution across a broad diversity of the grasses, and establishes a template for analysis of the large genomes of economically important pooid grasses such as wheat. The high-quality genome sequence, coupled with ease of cultivation and transformation, small size and rapid life cycle, will help Brachypodium reach its potential as an important model system for developing new energy and food crops.
