BioMed Central’s journals are publishing seven open
access companion papers analyzing these genome sequences. The papers inGenome Biology,BMC Genomics,BMC Evolutionary BiologyandBMC Bioinformaticsspan a wide range of topics, including genome-wide surveys
of RNAs, codon usage, comparative genomics of gene families and the evolution
of gene order and sequences.

The
sequencing of theDrosophila
melanogastergenomeat the turn of the millennium was a landmark in
genome research, acting as a stepping stone to
thehuman genome,
and furthering understanding of this
favourite model organism. The publication of theDrosophila
pseudoobscuragenomebuilt
upon this. As theDrosophilagenus has over 2,000 known species,
there is enormous scope in sequencing further members of this genus to study
the molecular evolution of closely related genomes.

D. simulansandD. yakuba
were sequenced by the Washington University Genome Center,D. erecta,D.
ananassae,D. virilis,D. mojavensisandD. grimshawiwere
sequenced by Agencourt, Inc.,D. willistoniwas sequenced by the J.
Craig Venter Institute, andD. persimilisandD. sechelliawere
sequenced by the Broad Institute.

Among the articles published by BioMed Central, a
trio of papers studies global genomic patterns, looking atcodon usage,sequence evolutionand theevolution of gene order and
chromosome rearrangements.

Two papers study the
conservation of sequence motifs to uncover novel小分子核糖核酸and othernon-coding RNAs.

On a smaller scale these
sequences allow comparative studies of the evolution of gene families, and two
papers analyzeoxidative
phosphorylation genesand theOdorant-Binding Protein family.

The addition of these 10 genomes to the roster of
completed genomes is a further milestone in comparative genomics. As
demonstrated by these companion studies, these sequences, along with the
already well-annotated genome ofDrosophila melanogaster, are an
extremely useful tool in exploring speciation, evolution and development, and
should be indispensable for biologists.