The exploding volume of whole genome sequences and genomic data that has resulted from advances in sequencing technology holds significant consequences and opportunities for advances in human health, industry and the environment.  Without the right tools to analyze it and the right open environment to publish and build on it, scientists will find it hard to translate this information into better solutions on the ground.

There are many reasons why PLoS ONE is ideally suited to publishing this rich genomic data. Since every peer-reviewed article is…

• published open access and freely accessible online – so it can be read by everyone
• available in XML (HTML/PDF) format – so it can be read by machine
• pulls in other relevant data such as citations, blog coverage and bookmarks – so you see more of the picture
• and allows user discussion through rating and commenting – so you can contribute to the debate

… it’s hard to imagine a better home for this research.

Our hard-working and prolific Section Editor for Genomics and Microbiology, Niyaz Ahmed, conceptualized,  organized and gave editorial oversight to the PLoS ONE Prokaryotic Geonome Collection and uses it to showcase the added value that publication in PLoS ONE can bring to a group of 17 articles that describe the whole genome sequence based biology of Prokaryotic organisms and their lifestyles – read his editorial overview.  New articles will be added to this collection over time as they are published, making it a “living collection”. Our sincere thanks to Niyaz for everything that he does for us.

We hope that you enjoy this collection.

Image Credit: William G. Miller, PLoS ONE.