Biotech Updates

Mexican Scientists Present Maize Genome Sequences

July 13, 2007

Mexican scientists from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV) this week presented the coded genome of maize in a ceremony to the Secretariats of Agriculture and Public Education. The sequencing project was carried out in the National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity of Mexico (LANGEBIO), and the collaborative effort required more than 600 million pesos (approx. US$55.7 million ) in funding. 

Alberto Cárdenas Jiménez, Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) highlighted the importance of this scientific breakthrough as it will provide the required knowledge to develop improved maize varieties with pest resistance and better protection against drought and low temperatures. “Our farmers will be able to obtain in three years maize varieties with increased resistance, while this used to take ten years before”, added Cárdenas Jiménez.

Marcial Negrete Martínez, representing Mexican maize farmers, asked the authorities to approve biotech maize varieties, adding that presently Mexican farmers are at a disadvantage compared to the farmers of other maize producing countries.

Read the full news at: http://www.sagarpa.gob.mx/cgcs/boletines/2007/julio/B156.htm