- A draft genome for bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), used to produce chapattis and rotis, has been put together by an International group of scientists.
- The species arose from a series of hybridization events that produced chromosomes merged from 3 ancestral species being merged. The plant now has 3 sets of 7 pairs of chromosomes, each forming a distinct sub-genome.
- None of the sub-genomes is dominant with more of its genes being utilised to turn out proteins.
- The genome is 5 times larger than that of humans, of this around 124,000 genes have been identified.
- The chromosomes were then separated and each of these are being sequenced to establish the exact order and location of units of DNA, known as bases, that it possessed.
- The Dept of Biotechnology in India funded the project of sequencing of chromosome 2A, done by Indian scientists. This chromosome alone has about 900 million bases, and is about 2.5 times bigger than the entire rice genome.
- Presently, a draft sequence of about 20 chromosomes have been established, while a finished version, with minimal gaps has been established for only 1 pair of chromosomes.
- The chromosome-based sequence will:
- Help understand how genes control complex traits like yield, grain quality, disease, pest resistance and the ability to withstand various kinds of stress.
- Allow scientists to activate genes that the plant possesses to create varieties producing better quality grain (increased tolerance and adaptable to changing climatic conditions).
- Read at:http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sci-tech-and-agri/wheat-draft-genome-sequence-ready/article6243479.ece