Comments on: Map the Corn Genome, Keep the Subsidies Flowing http://earth2tech.com/2008/02/26/map-the-corn-genome-keep-the-subsidies-flowing/ Helping the Earth with Technology Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:25:09 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: James http://earth2tech.com/2008/02/26/map-the-corn-genome-keep-the-subsidies-flowing/#comment-11449 James Thu, 15 May 2008 16:43:07 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/?p=1463#comment-11449 <p>Mapping the genome of a crop like maize actually has very limited use in genetically modifying the sequenced species. You'd be better off sequencing the genome of species that contain traits you want to introduce into corn (mostly plants growing in stressful environments. Think the resurrection plants of the American southwest, or plants that thrive in saltwater marshes).</p> <p>What genome sequencing is really useful for is marker assisted breeding. Rather than adding new genes to corn, this technology speeds up the process of conventional breeding (selecting the tallest, hardiest, highest yielding plants to breed for future years). With a sequenced genome, we can identify the genes already present in the genome that control the traits we find valuable more quickly select the best offspring of matings.</p> Mapping the genome of a crop like maize actually has very limited use in genetically modifying the sequenced species. You’d be better off sequencing the genome of species that contain traits you want to introduce into corn (mostly plants growing in stressful environments. Think the resurrection plants of the American southwest, or plants that thrive in saltwater marshes).

What genome sequencing is really useful for is marker assisted breeding. Rather than adding new genes to corn, this technology speeds up the process of conventional breeding (selecting the tallest, hardiest, highest yielding plants to breed for future years). With a sequenced genome, we can identify the genes already present in the genome that control the traits we find valuable more quickly select the best offspring of matings.

]]> By: Web http://earth2tech.com/2008/02/26/map-the-corn-genome-keep-the-subsidies-flowing/#comment-9581 Web Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:22:33 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/?p=1463#comment-9581 <p>Green energy is definitely the best solution in most cases. Technology like solar energy, wind power, fuel cells, zaps electric vehicles, EV hybrids, etc have come so far recently. Green energy even costs way less than oil and gas in many cases.</p> Green energy is definitely the best solution in most cases. Technology like solar energy, wind power, fuel cells, zaps electric vehicles, EV hybrids, etc have come so far recently. Green energy even costs way less than oil and gas in many cases.

]]> By: WTF Are Fourth-Generation Biofuels? « Earth2Tech http://earth2tech.com/2008/02/26/map-the-corn-genome-keep-the-subsidies-flowing/#comment-9158 WTF Are Fourth-Generation Biofuels? « Earth2Tech Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:21:12 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/?p=1463#comment-9158 <p>[...] content to make them easier to process. Researchers have already mapped the genomes of sorghum and corn, which may allow genetic agronomists to tweak the genes controlling oil [...]</p> [...] content to make them easier to process. Researchers have already mapped the genomes of sorghum and corn, which may allow genetic agronomists to tweak the genes controlling oil [...]

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