Next Steps for Functional Genomics

One of the holy grails in biology is the ability to predict functional characteristics from an organism's genetic sequence. Despite decades of research since the first sequencing of an organism in 1995, scientists still do not understand exactly how the information in genes is converted into an organism's phenotype, its physical characteristics. Functional genomics attempts to make use of the vast wealth of data from "-omics" screens and projects to describe gene and protein functions and interactions. A February 2020 workshop was held to determine research needs to advance the field of functional genomics over the next 10-20 years. Speakers and participants discussed goals, strategies, and technical needs to allow functional genomics to contribute to the advancement of basic knowledge and its applications that would benefit society. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop. Table of Contents Front Matter 1 Introduction 2 The GenotypePhenotype Challenge 3 Case Studies on Building Functional Genomics Tools in Diverse Systems 4 Understanding the Contributions of Non-Protein-Coding DNA to Phenotype 5 Advancing Research on the Environmental Regulation of Gene Function 6 Predicting Current and Future Sources of Variation in Quantitative Traits 7 Interpreting and Validating Results from High-Throughput Screening Approaches 8 Large Databases and Consortia 9 Big-Picture Challenges in Research, Education, and Training 10 Future of Functional Genomics References Appendix A: Statement of Task Appendix B: Workshop Agenda Appendix C: Planning Committee Biographies Appendix D: Speaker Biographies Appendix E: Acronyms and Abbreviations