Genome sequencing projects have produced gigabases of sequence information over the past decade, yet the biological role of much of this sequence remains obscure. We are interested in discovering what this sequence does for the cell, particularly in regards to microorganisms with small genomes. How does the sequence support replication? What are the genetic regulatory circuits that exist in the genome? By examining the genome as a whole, our goal is to make new observations that wouldn't have been possible if only one example of a cellular entity was studied. In the past, we have used the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system. However, currently the majority of our research is directed towards the genomes of organisms with significant medical relevance. To this end, a main focus of my laboratory is to functionally characterize the genome of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. The ultimate goal of this research is to use genome data to develop novel therapies for infectious diseases.