ID :
410808
Wed, 06/29/2016 - 05:18
Auther :

USM Researchers First To Discover Complete Basic Information On Rubber Tree Genome

GEORGE TOWN (Penang, Malaysia), June 29 (Bernama) -- A group of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) researchers has become the first group in the world to successfully discover the most complete basic information, with 93 per cent, in genome sequence - a world-changing discovery in the rubber industry development. USM Centre for Chemical Biology director, Prof Dr Alexander Chong Shu-Chien, and his team comprising Prof Dr Mohd Sofiman Othman and Dr. Lau Nyok-Sean, who are also plant specialists, had managed to come out with high-quality sequencing far more comprehensive than its first draft in 2013. Chong said the percentage of basic information recorded in 2013 was lower, that is between 70 and 80 per cent, and there were a lot of genes that needed to be discovered to complete the information on rubber productions. "By collaborating with RIKEN Centre for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan, a more comprehensive studies that could contribute to rubber productions with disease resistance were conducted in 2014. "This latest discovery would help researchers to manipulate the basic information in producing rubber trees which are more durable and resistant to disease, as well as capable of producing more latex," he told a press conference here Tuesday. He said over 2,000 genes responsible for latex production were revealed and that the discovery was fundamental towards research and development of new breed for the industry. -- BERNAMA

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