Homepage  Homepage     Search on site  Search on site     To write the letter  To write the letter     Site map  Site map
Agro Perspectiva
We are on: 
   
 


Home > News

Monsanto and Illumina Reach Key Milestone in Cotton Genome Sequencing

24.09.2010 09:57 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — The complicated cotton genome is one step closer to having its genetic threads unraveled, thanks to a key research milestone completed and announced today by Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON) and San Diego-based Ilumina Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN). Combining Monsanto’s knowledge of cotton genomics and Illumina’s next generation sequencing technology, a critical landmark has been achieved that could lead to the development of cotton crops with higher yields, better fiber quality, and greater resistance to diseases and pests. The two companies have completed sequencing a wild Peruvian cotton species, Gossypium raimondii, and will donate their findings to the public. The completion of G. raimondii will aid public and private researchers in their quest to sequence the more elusive genome of domesticated cotton, G. hirsutum. Domesticated cotton, more commonly known as American Upland cotton, accounts for more than 95 percent of U.S. production. Its genome has proven difficult to sequence and assemble because of its large size as well as the large quantity of repetitive DNA. The cotton genome, at about 2.7 billion nucleotides, is roughly comparable to the human genome at 3.2 billion. Additionally, most organisms-including humans-have two sets of chromosomes. However, domesticated cotton has four sets. «Imagine you have four puzzles and all of their numerous pieces to put together in order,» says Ty Vaughn, Monsanto global cotton technology lead. «On top of that, many of the puzzle pieces are identical. The cotton genome presents the same unique challenge to researchers.» Researchers chose a strategy to study related cotton species that closely represent the more complex domesticated cotton genome. The genetic structure of the G. raimondii species represents one part, and the G. arboretum species, more commonly known as tree cotton, represents the other. Additionally, previous molecular studies have shown that the G. raimondii and G. arboreum genomes have a great deal of similarity in the way that genes are arranged on chromosomes. This could allow the G. raimondii genomic sequence to serve as a base to assemble the even larger and more complicated G. arboreum genome. Having those two sequences together is expected to provide a path toward sequencing and understanding the genome of domesticated cotton. «Today’s announcement will bring everyone closer to assembling the entire cotton genetic puzzle. Sequencing helps cotton breeders and researchers identify which genes are responsible for which characteristics in the crop,» says Vaughn. «A high-quality genome map can help us get where we need to go faster and the more detailed that map the faster we can get there.» «The G. raimondii genome sequencing project is a great example of Illumina’s commitment to deep collaborations that leverage the quality, throughput and utility of our industry-leading technology,» said Michael Thompson, Ph.D., Global Sales Manager of Agrigenomics at Illumina. «We are pleased that this work will enable a thorough understanding of gene content and organization, and lay the ground work for unraveling and harnessing the diversity among the Gossypium genome types. These advancements will ultimately benefit both producers and consumers.» Monsanto and Illumina will deposit the genetic data into the public domain through entry in the GenBank database, hosted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Monsanto has a history of donating its genomic knowledge to the public sector. In previous years, the company has made its sequencing of the Arabidopsis genome public and contributed significant genomic data to help complete the rice and corn genomes. In cotton, Monsanto previously donated 4,000 cotton molecular markers and associated information to Texas AgriLife Research, an agency of the Texas A&M System, in April 2009. These types of public donations should help cotton research continue to move forward. «As a leader in the cotton industry, we have the resources, expertise, and partners such as Illumina to conduct this type of work, and believe it’s important to share this knowledge with both public and private researchers so we can all benefit,» says Vaughn. «We can achieve the ultimate goal of a complete sequence of the cotton genome faster by sharing what we’ve learned and enabling others in the cotton community to continue and build upon this research.» Once the information is publicly available, David Stelly a molecular breeder and cotton genomicist with Texas A&M University, is expected to lead the effort to pull together a group of researchers in the public sector to conduct further analysis of the G. raimondii genome and the role it plays in key functions such as fiber development. «A public reference genome sequence is essential to efficient use of modern genomic technologies for both non-GE and GE approaches to genetic improvement,» says Stelly. «The lack of a good public reference genome for cotton has been among the most serious constraints on development of cotton genomics. The ongoing efforts by Monsanto and Illumina will lead to a good public reference genome for cotton, and help stimulate the creation of new and more efficient research paradigms in cotton research and improvement. These will be needed if society is to meet additional demands of the future, when we’ll have to produce more, yet use fewer resources.»

Agro Perspectiva

< In Aug fresh/chilled pork output weakened by 8.1%, down to 11,400 MT All news for
24.09.2010
As of Aug, frozen pork output dropped by 29%, down to 500 MT >

28.03.2024  
12:55 Council compromise on Ukraine ATMs – Only a half step forward in the right direction
09:18 Commission approves amendment to Italian State aid scheme to support companies in Friuli Venezia Giulia in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine
26.03.2024  
10:55 Projected famine in Gaza: FAO urges immediate access to deliver urgent and critical assistance at scale. About 1.1 million people are experiencing catastrophic food insecurity
08:44 EU makes major step forward in the delivery of 2024 humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza*
25.03.2024  
16:17 Commission approves ˆ86.9 million Bulgarian State aid scheme to support farmers in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine
21.03.2024  
11:15 Commission takes action to boost biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU
20.03.2024  
11:13 Deal to extend trade support for Ukraine with safeguards for EU farmers
19.03.2024  
09:43 CAP - The Commission proposes simplifications that safeguard agricultural transitions!
18.03.2024  
23:10 The European Union and Switzerland launch negotiations to deepen bilateral relations
10:05 Commission proposes targeted review of Common Agricultural Policy to support EU farmers
15.03.2024  
23:36 Cargill Power CanolaTM Program Helps Farmers Take Advantage of Growing Bioenergy Market Opportunities for Canadian Canola
23:19 FAO will provide Ukrainian farmers with soybean and sunflower seeds for spring sowing campaign
13.03.2024  
23:27 FAO urges more cooperation in banana sector, significant for some least developed and low-income food-deficit countries and smallholder farmers
16:51 The European Commission sets out key steps for managing climate risks to protect people and prosperity
12.03.2024  
20:25 Coreper and COMENVI approve the provisional agreement on EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework
20:24 INTA MEPs fail EU producers by dismissing potential improvements to Ukraine ATMs
08:10 Soybean meal is expected to be a more competitive feed ingredient on higher global supplies.
11.03.2024  
09:11 U.S. Corn Exports Shift Destinations as Brazil Captures China Market
08.03.2024  
15:20 Conflicts push acute food insecurity higher
13:21 FAO Food Price Index declines further in February
13:14 Packaging: Council and Parliament strike a deal to make packaging more sustainable and reduce packaging waste in the EU
11:45 Commission approves ˆ61.3 million Bulgarian State aid scheme to support farmers, producers of grain and oil crops, in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine
07.03.2024  
20:41 First go-ahead to renewing trade support for Ukraine and Moldova
05.03.2024  
15:55 Commission proposes to prolong road transport agreements with Ukraine and Moldova and introduces updates to the agreement with Ukraine
02.03.2024  
07:31 Heroes of deserts and highlands: Nourishing people and culture
23.02.2024  
10:21 BASF’s financial strength supports proposed stable dividend of ˆ3.40 per share for the 2023 business year
10:17 The Council has chosen to ignore farmers' concerns regarding Ukraine ATMs; it is now imperative for the European Parliament to take action
20.02.2024  
20:27 South Asia is anticipated to import nearly 14 million tons wheat in 2023/24
19.02.2024  
13:00 Cargill and ENOUGH expand partnership to provide consumers with innovative, sustainable protein options
17.02.2024  
17:47 Global Environment Facility approves new FAO-led projects and programs benefiting 46 countries
16.02.2024  
09:10 The EU is at a crossroads with the Ukrainian agricultural issue - COPA-COGECA, AVES, CEFS, CEPM, CIBE, EUWEP
13.02.2024  
17:31 European farmers exempted from rules on land lying fallow
12.02.2024  
16:45 India Wheat Stocks Plummet to Lowest in 15 Years
03.02.2024  
17:35 Mandarins. Global production for 2023/24 is forecast to rise to 38.0 million tons
09:59 Record cereal output in 2023
07:15 FAO Food Price Index down again in January led by lower wheat and maize prices
29.01.2024  
10:32 President von der Leyen launches Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture
26.01.2024  
11:31 Record Exports Forecast for Egypt Oranges
23.01.2024  
17:55 With the Federal Chancellor in the show bakery
19.01.2024  
11:45 Organic production in Ukraine
16.01.2024  
23:25 Domestic consumption of dairy products may double in 2024 – analysts
12.01.2024  
23:53 Competition Tightens for Leading Pork Exporter
22:55 Peru Fish Meal Exports at Lowest Level Since 2015/16 El Niño
22:43 Grains Trade Disrupted by Challenges in Key Shipping Routes
10.01.2024  
15:38 In China, the largest import market for dairy products, surplus raw milk production led to government subsidies to stabilize the domestic processing sector
09.01.2024  
11:55 The FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 134.6 points in December, down 26.8 points from November
06.01.2024  
12:43 Polish fish and seafood imports continued to grow in 2022 and reached over $3 billion, with a $129 million (4 percent market share) originating from the USA
05.01.2024  
17:21 EU imports are dominated by unroasted green coffee beans, which accounts for about 90 percent of trade
17:00 FAO Food Price Index declines in December. Benchmark measure of world food commodity prices ends 2023 about 10 percent below its year-earlier level
29.12.2023  
09:53 Global and Bank of Georgia sign EUR50 million loan agreement to support small businesses

Also available: 


NewsNews - News - News - News - News - News
BriefWeekly Reports - Free article
SubscriptionTariff - News&Reports
AdvertisingMagazine - Site
ConferencesForum AGRO-2013 - DAIRY WORLD-2008 - FERTILIZERS-2010
Statistics
For our clientsAgroNewsDaily - Ukrainian Grain&Oilseed Market - Fertilizers - Milk Monthly - Milk Weekly
About usAbout project - Contact
2002 -2024 © Agrarika, ltd.
tel.: +380 67 4473802; +380 67 5964652
e-mail: client@agroperspectiva.com