Project to Map and Analyze Five Wheat Genomes
February 13, 2009| |
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has awarded the University of Liverpool and the John Innes Center a 1.7 million pounds (US $2.4 million) grant to analyze the genomes of five wheat varieties. The work will help scientists understand the genetic basis of differing levels of yield and environmental stress tolerance between wheat varieties. This knowledge could ultimately help to develop new types of wheat with higher yield or able to cope with the different conditions climate change is likely to bring.
Sequencing and analyzing the wheat genome is no easy task. It is five times larger than the human genome and is composed of three essentially separate yet closely related genomes. A significant portion of the genome is junk DNA.
“Wheat production world-wide has not kept up with demand and is under threat from drought and new diseases,” said Professor Mike Bevan from the John Innes Centre. “We need to use modern genomic technologies to help breed varieties that will be more adaptable, higher yielding, and which resist diseases that cause major crop losses”.
The press release is available at http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/media/releases/2009/090211_wheat_genome_food_security.html
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