Making Old, Nonviable Seeds Talk
August 15, 2008| |
Seeds can reveal genetic information even after they have lost the ability to germinate, scientists from the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) found out. The scientists have developed a method to extract research-quality DNA from non-viable, hundred-year-old seeds. The research may have significant implication for seed bank management since all seeds lose viability in storage and samples that can no longer germinate are often discarded.
Christina Walters and her colleagues from National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP) studied three sets of seeds—ranging in age from 1 to 135 years. The team found out that even the oldest seed had chunks of DNA containing at least 900 base pairs, enough to identify the seed’s species and compare it to genetically similar materials.
For more information, read http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2008/080811.htm
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