ABSTRACT
The ubiquitous nature of DNA is a central theme for all biology. The nucleus of each cell that makes up an organism contains genomic DNA, which is the blueprint for life. The differential expression of genes within each cell gives rise to different tissues, organs, and, ultimately, organisms. Changes in genomic DNA give rise to functional advantages that make some individuals more successful than others. Success, as measured by the ability to reproduce, dictates that organisms that accumulate useful mutations in their genomic DNA will be more likely to pass those changes on to future generations. Heritable mutations are the genetic variation that is visualized by molecular tools. In this chapter, we will discuss the many different forms of genetic variation, current molecular methods for characterizing genetic variation, and possible questions concerning plant diversity that can be answered with molecular tools.
