Construction of a Set of Full-Length Enriched cDNA Libraries as Genomics Tools for Xenopus Tropicalis Research

A large variety of mammalian and non-mammalian animal models have been used in research designed to uncover fundamental mechanisms underlying development and disease. Genomics tools have become increasingly necessary for the molecular genetic analysis of important biological questions. However, there are few genomics resources available for the emerging vertebrate model Xenopus tropicalis. Here we discuss our approach towards making a collection of full-length cDNAs from X. tropicalis that will serve as a resource for EST sequencing, microarray development and large-scale functional genomics analysis of Xenopus development.