Phenomics

This chapter focuses on types of phenotypic measurements, technological advances that enable high-throughput phenotypic measurements, computational tools that are used to interpret and predict phenotypic behavior, and the impact that the field of phenomics will have on biotechnology. Phenomics looks to elucidate the genotype-phenotype relationship; as such, current work is primarily limited to studying organisms with a well characterized genotype. The current state of phenomics is focused on studying behaviors that are typical of simpler organisms. The growth properties of a microorganism can now be assessed in a high-throughput manner. Largely because of the newness of the field, the number of high-throughput technologies useful for phenomics is limited. Most tools that are particularly useful for phenomics are focused on measuring growth capabilities of microorganisms in a high-throughput manner. In the near future, one should expect the development of new technologies that will help propel the field of phenomics forward. Genome-scale models of metabolic networks are needed to interpret and predict phenomic data. So far, these genome-scale models have only been analyzed by using flux-balance analysis (FBA) and extreme pathway analysis, mainly due to a lack of measured enzymatic parameters that are needed in some of the other modeling methodologies. For this reason the principles behind FBA and its uses are discussed, and readers are encouraged to access the given references for descriptions of the other modeling methodologies. Finally, the chapter discusses two examples illustrating how the field of phenomics will affect biotechnology.