The corn genome has been decoded
Alexey Levin, Voice of AmericaWork on mapping the hereditary information of corn began in 2005 and cost a total of $ 32 million.
It was headed by researchers from the University of. Washington in St. Louis, who were assisted by employees of other research centers. This team deciphered the genome of high-yielding corn variety B73, which was bred by breeders of the University of Iowa several decades ago. So far, the work has been completed by about 95% and will be completed by the end of this year. However, the project manager, Professor of genetics and microbiology Richard Wilson, believes that significant amendments will not be needed.
The official presentation will take place on February 28 at the 50th Annual Corn Genetics Conference in the US capital from February 27. However, all the collected information is already open for public use. They can be found on the website http://maizesequence.org .
Corn has become the second grain crop of global importance after rice, the genome of which has been deciphered. The first version of her gene map was published by Mexican scientists last summer, but this information needed a number of clarifications. The participants of the American project believe that their version is much more reliable.
Scientists have found out that the hereditary information of corn is recorded using two billion nucleotide bases. The genetic text of rice is much shorter, nature needed only 430 million nucleotides to record it. The exact number of corn genes remains to be determined, but most likely ranges from 50 to 60 thousand.
In an interview with the Russian service of the Voice of America, Prof. Wilson said that the new gene map will not only help scientists around the world better understand the biology and genetics of corn, but will also accelerate the development of new varieties of this important food cereal. Now researchers will have to carefully analyze the collected information and draw a lot of conclusions on this basis, both purely cognitive and practical. He expressed confidence that these efforts will enrich science with many discoveries.