WHEAT GENOME

About:

• International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC) has published a detailed description of the ‘reference genome sequence of bread wheat’ in the journal Science.
  
  
• Chinese Spring is the name of the bread wheat variety for which the DNA sequence was presented by Scientists.
  
  
• The reference genome decoded covers 94% of the entire wheat genome.
  
  
• The wheat genome is more than five times larger than the human genome and it is also more complex which presented problems for researchers.
  
  
• Significance:
  • The information will help in identifying genes controlling complex agricultural traits such as yield, grain quality, resistance to diseases and pests, as well as tolerance to drought.
    
    
  • This will help scientists in developing climate-resilient wheat – the world’s most widely cultivated crop – thus addressing Global Food Security.
    
    
  
  
  

Genome:

• A genome is an organism’s complete set of DNAs, including all of its genes.
  
  
• Each genome contains all of the information needed to build and maintain that organism.