Functional Genomics in Cotton

The encoded information in DNA sequences is referred to as genome and the exploration of this kind of information is a serious challenge in biological systems, especially when dealing with gigantic data sets. Functional genomics, being based on the dynamic side of genome-wide studies rather than static representation as in structural genomics, is an emerging field of molecular biology and implicates the latest high-throughput methods. Functional genomics is the understanding of the association between an organism’s genomic information and its phenotype. Cotton is not only an important cash crop of Pakistan but significantly important throughout the world. A minimal improvement in cotton plant is being observed during the last few decades and is much needed in terms of cotton plant biology for the exploitation of genetic resources through functional genomics approaches. This chapter includes a discussion on functional genomic aspects and improvement in cotton research through mutagenesis, targeting induced local lesions in genomes (TILLING), RNAi, and genetic transformation. Further, future directions and perspectives related to the improvement of this distinctive crop plant are also be highlighted.