In addition to genome sequencing, advances in genetic modification technologies have contributed greatly to the progress of biology over the past half century. By using genetic transformation and genome editing technologies, now can be possible to modify the genome more quickly and specifically. However, all such technologies have been modifications of the nuclear genome.

In eukaryotes, genetic information exists not only in the cell's nucleus, but also in the organelles (mitochondria and chloroplasts) and intracellular symbiotic bacteria (Wolbachia) that reside in the cytoplasm. We defined them as "cytoplasmic genomes". Although the cytoplasmic genome contains only about 1% of the genetic information of the entire genome in a cell, it is at the root of many important and interesting life phenomena of fundamental and applied properties, such as photosynthesis, respiration, polyploidy, maternal inheritance, sex determination, and causative mutations of over 250 mitochondrial diseases. With the recent explosion of nuclear genome editing technologies, only those parts of the cytoplasmic genome directly involved remain as unresolved issues, and their relative importance has increased. The advent of such technology to control the cytoplasmic genome is expected to advance longstanding research issues and contribute to society through its application.

In this area, we aim to elucidate important life phenomena by bringing together researchers of "cytoplasmic genomics" with the advantage of the prior technologies we have developed and the knowledge we have accumulated.