Genetic map of rice plant completed

In a development that can help millions of hungry poor across the world, an international team of scientists from various countries, including India, reported that they had deciphered the genetic code of rice.

Rice is the first crop plant whose complete genetic sequence, or genome, has been decoded and placed in computer data banks around the world.
 
It will be a key tool for researchers working on improved strains of rice as they struggle to stay ahead of human population growth.
 
"You could equate this to being as important as the Human Genome Project," which recently compiled a human genetic map, said Rod Wing, a scientist at the University of Arizona who was a key participant in the rice project.

"This is really a project that can lead to important discoveries and findings that can help the condition of the poor. The poorest of the poor are the ones that depend on rice the most."

Importantly in the short term, completion of the rice genome is expected to speed conventional breeding programmes, allowing researchers to produce rice strains that resist drought and disease and that grow in colder climates and at higher elevations. 

Also read: Hyderabad : India's Genome Valley                                   

The new map will make it possible, in theory, to perform sophisticated genetic manipulations of the rice plant, including introducing genes from other species to create desirable traits.

The work is reported in Thursday's issue of the journal 'Nature' by the International Rice Genome Sequencing Project, which was established in 1998 and includes scientists from 10 nations.

The effort was led by Japanese researchers. In the 'Nature' report, scientists estimated rice contains 37,544 genes, but said that figure would no doubt be revised with further research.

Besides India, Japan and the US, scientists from Brazil, China, France, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Kingdom participated.