Whole genome re‐sequencing of two ‘wild‐type’ strains of the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

The photoautotrophic cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is a widely used model in genomic research and was the first photosynthetic organism to have its entire genome sequenced. Here, we report the genome sequence for two glucose‐tolerant laboratory ‘wild‐type’ strains, GT‐O1 and GT‐O2, in use at the University of Otago. Using high‐throughput genome sequencing techniques and subsequent Sanger sequencing of detected variants, we have identified ten de novo mutations in the two strains, of which six are unique to GT‐O2 cells. The presence of these unique mutations highlights the need to know the genomic background of the parent strain when constructing mutants in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 strains.