Biotech Updates

Scientists Map Out Soybean Genome to Boost Oil and Protein Content

July 23, 2010

Scientists from the Agricultural Research Service are on their way towards discovering the genetic hints for increasing the protein and oil content of soybeans. The success of their study would further increase the market value of soybean and help the US growers compete in the global market.

Carroll Vance, Yung-Tsi Boon and Randy Shoemaker are the ARS researchers who are working on the soybean genome, together with Bindu Joseph of the University of California-Davis. They have formed a soybean genetic map that identifies key molecular markers along the region of the genome which contains 13 "candidate genes" essential in determining the oil and protein level. They also discovered through their study that the protein levels of soybeans are determined during the early stage of the seed's development.

For more information, visit http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2010/100719.htm.