Back in
NC
State researchers decode rice blast fungus genome: rice's gravest
fungal menace, I posted how the rice blast fungus genome had
been sequenced, and mentioned that 'Scientists sequenced rice's
genome in 2002'. But the BBC today says that
Rice genome
unravelled at last, reporting on a
Nature article this
week.
The relevant quote from
The Korea Times article
Genome on Rice Killer Unveiled is
"As the analysis of the rice genome
sequence was already done in 2002, we now have crucial data for
both the host (rice) and the pathogen (rice blast fungus). This
will lead to a new way of tackling the fungus," Lee said.
The
Nature web site doesn't seem to have the article the BBC
refers to yet. (Here's the
results of a search for "rice", listing by most recent.)
An interesting quote from the BBC article:
It took seven years to complete the work
and the results are already accelerating discovery. Scientists have
used the sequence to identify genes that control fundamental
processes, such as flowering.
Rice's similarity to barley has also helped researchers identify
genes responsible for resistance to barley powdery mildew and stem
rust, two major crop diseases.
I don't know what the difference is between what was accomplished
in 2002, and what is reported on today.