This manual presents background information on rice genomics, highlighting major achievements and ongoing developments in the field. The text promotes genomics as a holistic approach to rice research and genetic engineering. The volume is part of a series designed to familiarize scientists, students and the general public with exciting new discoveries and developments in rice genomics. Leading scientists in rice genomics and related fields are invited to write articles in a cohesive format that should appeal to both researchers and laypersons with an interest in genomics and biotechnology. The chief editor of the series is Professor Huanming Yang of the Beijing Genomics Institute. Professor Yang led a team of researchers who successfully sequenced and analyzed the draft sequence of the indica rice subspecies. In this volume, he co-authors an article entitled An International Campaign for Agricultural and Livestock Genomics .