Chinese Scientists Create Comprehensive Map of Rice Genetic Variations


Published on: October 17, 2023.

Filed under:

Chinese researchers have made a significant breakthrough in the world of rice genetics. They have successfully created a digital genetic variation map of rice using a massive collection of over 10,000 rice samples. This groundbreaking map will serve as a valuable tool for future research on natural rice variations, specifically rare variants.

Rice is a crucial staple food and crop worldwide, making this development extremely significant. The natural variations found in rice are essential for understanding its genetic makeup and potential for genetic modification and modern breeding techniques.

Shang Lianguang, a researcher from the Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen (AGIS) under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, described this achievement as a “digital map” that will provide clear guidance for rice breeding research.

By utilizing this map, the researchers were able to correct classification errors in certain indica and japonica rice varieties. Furthermore, they conducted a comprehensive analysis of the population frequencies of important functional genes among different rice subpopulations, ultimately identifying valuable natural variations within them.

To make their findings accessible to the global community, the researchers developed an online database platform. This platform will allow researchers and scientists from around the world to access relevant scientific and research services related to rice studies.

The research paper detailing this groundbreaking work was recently published in the prestigious scientific journal Nucleic Acids Research.

This exciting development in rice genetics opens up a world of possibilities for further research and advancements in the field. The digital genetic variation map and the accompanying database will undoubtedly contribute to future breakthroughs in rice breeding and modification.

To read the original article, click here: Source