Book excerpt: Remarkable research has yielded whole genome data in plants, resulting in the documentation of an ever-increasing number of genes, without establishing their functions. The huge data resources available at the genome, transcriptome, proteome and metabolome levels are of enormous value in the field of functional genomics. This book provides insights into interpreting the sea of data in order to understand basic and practical aspects of plant metabolic engineering. It discusses in detail ways to tap into this enormous pool of data to increase productivity, and offers information that is both interesting and necessary for exploring the manipulation of metabolic pathways. The interdisciplinary approaches presented here also serve as a source of ideas for practical applications.