Monsanto produces genetic blueprint of female corn line

FEEDSTUFFS

(9/11/2008)

Monsanto has produced a genetic blueprint of one of its top-performing elite female corn lines. The scientific achievement, important for developing better-performing corn seeds for farmers, was made through the use of high throughput DNA sequencing methods, as well as data generated by the recently completed maize genome project.

High throughput sequencing methods enable scientists to rapidly identify variations in the genomes of complex organisms. In health care, for example, high throughput sequencing aids in the discovery of gene variants that can lead to development of new medicines.

"In agriculture, high throughput sequencing has the potential to provide an unprecedented level of detail about our current market-leading hybrids and to point us in the direction of meeting Monsanto's commitment to double yields in our core crops by 2030," said Monsanto Chief Technology Officer Dr. Robert Fraley.

In February, scientists led by a team of researchers at Washington University completed a draft sequence of the corn genome. Monsanto contributed valuable data that led to completion of the draft sequence. Fraley said the company is analyzing the blueprint of its own elite line in comparison to the public maize genome sequence to identify genes Monsanto will use in its breeding and biotechnology pipelines to develop future hybrids.

feedstuffs.com