Researchers have successfully assembled a near-complete genome sequence of
the popular plant model system Antirrhinum majus, commonly known as
snapdragon.

The near-complete assembly is comprised of 510 megabases of genomic sequence
and contains nearly 38,000 annotated protein-encoding genes. The research
was done by scientists in China and at the John Innes Centre (JIC).

Snapdragon, a flowering plant, has served as a model system for the past
three decades, facilitating investigations into molecular and developmental
genetics. Antirrhinum has been used as a model system by scientists in
learning more about plant shape, gene function and important genetic
elements such as transposons - also known as jumping genes.

[www.jic.ac.uk]