Computational Biology in Plants: Technological Innovations in the Post-Genomic Era
摘要
Computational biology is reshaping plant science, opening new possibilities for analyzing and interpreting vast biological datasets with precision. The advent of single cell and third-generation sequencing (TGS) has propelled plant science into the digital era where genomes are routinely assembled, annotated, and characterized. Digitized genomes reveal genetic and epigenetic variation, highlighting the limitations of single reference genomes and enable pangenome construction to capture diversity for breeding and editing. In parallel, advances in computational power have driven the development of high-throughput phenotyping platforms, capable of measuring complex plant traits with unprecedented accuracy. From drones to environmental sensors, these technologies generate data that bridge the gap between genomes and phenotypes, enabling the dissection of genotype-environment interactions. Today, plant science intersects with artificial intelligence (AI) and synthetic biology. AI-driven models are revealing new insights into growth, stress responses, and metabolisms, while CRISPR-based gene editing and plant artificial chromosomes (PACs) are pushing the boundaries of crop design and domestication. Collectively, these innovations point toward crops that are climate-resilient, resource-efficient, and capable of addressing global challenges in food security, and climate change. the next frontier lies in weaving together multi-omics data, predictive analytics, and biodesign, positioning plant sciences at the forefront of sustainable agriculture and biotechnological innovation.