expressed sequence tags isolated from soybean are disclosed . the ests provide a unique molecular tool for the targeting and isolation of novel genes for plant protection and improvement . the disclosed ests have utility in the development of new strategies for understanding critical plant developmental and metabolic pathways . the disclosed ests have particular utility in isolating genes and promoters , identifying and mapping the genes involved in developmental and metabolic pathways , and determining gene function . sequence homology analyses using the ests provided in the present invention , will result in more efficient gene screening for desirable agronomic traits . an expanding database of these select pieces of the plant genomics puzzle will quickly expand the knowledge necessary for subsequent functional validation , a key limitation in current plant biotechnology efforts .