Over the past two years TAIR has taken the lead in organizing a community effort to reannotate the Arabidopsis thaliana genome. The result is TAIR12, released earlier this year on the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) and National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
The project was only made possible through the work of nearly 100 volunteers based in labs all over the world who generously donated their time and expertise. Scientists like Manoj Sapkota of the University of Kentucky chose to contribute to this work for the benefit of science. A. thaliana is key to understanding plant genetics, with implications for fields from plant biology to pharmacology to crop research. TAIR, as the most comprehensive and trusted resource on A. thaliana, is essential to that work. TAIR12 incorporates the latest discoveries and evidence using the most advanced techniques and technologies. For researchers who use TAIR in their daily work, that means greater accuracy and reliability, superior experiment design, more precise hypotheses, and ultimately better, more efficient research.
In this series, we’re pleased to introduce you to some of the volunteers who helped make this possible. Please join us in expressing gratitude for their efforts!
Meet Manoj Sapkota
The Sapkota Lab focuses on integrating traditional plant breeding with modern innovations in molecular biology, genomics, metabolomics, bioinformatics, and data science. The group aims to develop improved horticultural crop varieties that combine high yield, resilience, and exceptional flavor and nutritional quality, bridging classical and modern breeding approaches.
Why did you choose to volunteer your time to support the TAIR12 re-annotation project?
I chose to volunteer because of how central Arabidopsis is to plant genomics and molecular biology — resources like TAIR are foundational to nearly every project I work on. Contributing to this re-annotation effort felt like a meaningful way to give back to the community that supports my own research. It was also a wonderful opportunity to learn from experts, connect with colleagues from around the world, and be part of a collaborative effort that directly enhances the quality of resources used by countless plant scientists.
Why is reannotation important to the plant biology research community?
Reannotation is essential for maintaining the accuracy and reliability of genomic resources. For Arabidopsis—the model plant for most functional genomics studies — these updates provide more precise gene models that improve everything from gene mapping and cloning to pathway analysis and systems biology. Updated annotations help researchers design better experiments, interpret data more accurately, and link genes to phenotypes with greater confidence. Beyond Arabidopsis, TAIR12 will also benefit comparative genomics, enabling researchers working in other crop species to identify orthologous genes and better understand conserved biological processes. In the age of AI and large-scale data modeling, having a robust and validated Arabidopsis reference is invaluable for training predictive tools across species.
What work did you perform as part of the project?
As part of the TAIR12 re-annotation project, I contributed to reviewing and validating gene models using multiple lines of evidence—such as transcriptomics and long-read sequencing data — to confirm or refine annotations following the training provided by the TAIR team. I worked on several classes of gene annotations and later assisted in revisiting and finalizing annotations completed by other volunteers to ensure accuracy and consistency across the dataset.
What was the most challenging aspect of the work? The most rewarding?
The most challenging part was coordinating such a large and diverse team of volunteers and ensuring consistent interpretation across all annotations. However, this challenge was more than offset by the outstanding organization, training, and leadership from Tanya and her team, who made the process smooth and engaging.
The most rewarding part was the sense of contributing to something much larger than myself — a high-quality, community-driven resource that will be used by thousands of researchers worldwide. Knowing that my small piece of work will directly support future discoveries in plant science was incredibly fulfilling.
What are your hopes for TAIR12 and its impact in the field?
I hope TAIR12 will set a new benchmark for genomic accuracy and accessibility in model plants. Improved annotations will empower molecular biologists to explore gene function with greater precision, leading to new insights into plant development, physiology, and adaptation. Ultimately, I believe TAIR12 will continue to serve as the foundation for discoveries that extend well beyond Arabidopsis — informing research in crops, ecosystems, and global food security.
There’s more to come! Watch this space, for researcher profiles, publication information, and other news and updates on TAIR12.
