The absence of Open Reading Frames is good evidence for a "desert".
Gene sequencing technology has found many genes that were previously unknown by examining for open reading frames. This technology also allows us to sequence proteins, which was a real arduous task in the old days (sigh... I guess I am getting to the point where I belong with the dinosaurs).
Nope, it only allows the prediction of sequence. If you want to know the actual sequence, you still have to do it the tedious way.