Media outlets across the country announced over the weekend that scientists had cracked wheat’s genetic code, allowing researchers to understand the plant and its genetic make-up.
But members of the International Wheat Gnome Sequence Consortium (IWGSC) are quick to point out that the allegations simply aren’t true.
Sequencing the wheat gnome, which is five-times more complex than the humane gnome, is a huge project that is, in reality, only 5 percent complete. Scientists from more than a dozen countries have been working together to crack the code. Progress has been made, but the puzzle is not yet complete said IWGSC coordinator Kellye Eversole.
The contribution of British scientists, which was highlighted in the article previously published, does provide researchers with valuable raw data, but that data is not enough to decipher the entire code.
“...this premature claim is jeopardizing the ongoing international efforts to truly achieve a gnome sequence with high utility for wheat in the next five years," Eversole said. "The IWGSC remains committed to continuing our collaborative, international effort and look forward to the day when we can indeed announce that the "wheat genetic code has been cracked."
Cracking the genetic code is one of the wheat industry’s primary goals. Scientists have already decoded the genetic sequence for rice, corn and soybeans, allowing for genetically modified crop varieties and a better understanding of the crop’s traits.
Discovering wheat’s DNA is essential to wheat improvements and better breeding technology. Nation-wide, the wheat industry has lost acres to other crops because of a lack of technology in the crop and ability to great wheat seed that can withstand varying conditions.
Kansas' wheat farmers, through the Kansas Wheat Commission wheat assessment, have contributed more than $200,000 to the IWGSC effort since it began in 2005. Kansas State University also has committed significant financial and human resources to the IWGSC effort.
“The U.S. wheat industry believes that biotechnology provides one platform for new solutions to meet the challenges to commercial viability. The support for moving forward with the technology is already spurring new investment in conventional breeding and biotechnology research,” the Kansas Wheat Association stated in an April press release.
Genetically modified crops now make up more than 80 percent of the soybean, corn and cotton planted in the U.S.
“The U.S. wheat industry believes that biotechnology provides one platform for new solutions to meet the challenges to commercial viability. The support for moving forward with the technology is already spurring new investment in conventional breeding and biotechnology research,” Kansas Wheat stated.
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Media outlets across the country announced over the weekend that scientists had cracked wheat’s genetic code, allowing researchers to understand the plant and its genetic make-up.
But members of the International Wheat Gnome Sequence Consortium (IWGSC) are quick to point out that the allegations simply aren’t true.
Sequencing the wheat gnome, which is five-times more complex than the humane gnome, is a huge project that is, in reality, only 5 percent complete. Scientists from more than a dozen countries have been working together to crack the code. Progress has been made, but the puzzle is not yet complete said IWGSC coordinator Kellye Eversole.
The contribution of British scientists, which was highlighted in the article previously published, does provide researchers with valuable raw data, but that data is not enough to decipher the entire code.
“...this premature claim is jeopardizing the ongoing international efforts to truly achieve a gnome sequence with high utility for wheat in the next five years," Eversole said. "The IWGSC remains committed to continuing our collaborative, international effort and look forward to the day when we can indeed announce that the "wheat genetic code has been cracked."
Cracking the genetic code is one of the wheat industry’s primary goals. Scientists have already decoded the genetic sequence for rice, corn and soybeans, allowing for genetically modified crop varieties and a better understanding of the crop’s traits.
Discovering wheat’s DNA is essential to wheat improvements and better breeding technology. Nation-wide, the wheat industry has lost acres to other crops because of a lack of technology in the crop and ability to great wheat seed that can withstand varying conditions.
Kansas' wheat farmers, through the Kansas Wheat Commission wheat assessment, have contributed more than $200,000 to the IWGSC effort since it began in 2005. Kansas State University also has committed significant financial and human resources to the IWGSC effort.
“The U.S. wheat industry believes that biotechnology provides one platform for new solutions to meet the challenges to commercial viability. The support for moving forward with the technology is already spurring new investment in conventional breeding and biotechnology research,” the Kansas Wheat Association stated in an April press release.
Genetically modified crops now make up more than 80 percent of the soybean, corn and cotton planted in the U.S.
“The U.S. wheat industry believes that biotechnology provides one platform for new solutions to meet the challenges to commercial viability. The support for moving forward with the technology is already spurring new investment in conventional breeding and biotechnology research,” Kansas Wheat stated.
