Genome library is a world beater
6 Jun 2005 by Evoluted New Media
Scientists have created the world’s largest collection of plant DNA libraries that they hope will provide a massive boost to plant research
Scientists have created the world’s largest collection of plant DNA libraries that they hope will provide a massive boost to plant research.
Researchers at the University of Warwick's horticultural research arm, Warwick HRI, have created "Warwick Plant Genomic Libraries Limited" to develop this new resource for plant researchers.
Ken Manning, of Warwick Plant Genomic Libraries, told Laboratory News: “Most of our customers will be in academic and agricultural sectors, but I also think that the pharmaceutical industry will be interested in the products to develop new drugs.”
The new library includes genomic information from 20 different plant species, a far wider range than is available from any other DNA library service. It includes Aloe Vera, a plant with a DNA structure made up of 16,000 megabases (by comparison a human's DNA structure consists of 3,000 megabases) and Catharanthus roseus, the only source of two key cancer drugs (vincristine and vinblastine).
Ken Manning, Warwick HRI, shows off apple DNA
Using a technique known as “shearing”, researchers were able to make the plant's entire DNA available with "unbiased" inserts that give the best possible representation of the DNA of each species. This method avoids the preferential selection of certain regions of DNA that can occur when restriction enzymes are used.
The library also includes apple, banana and orange plants which the team hope will aid food research.
