In the race of the anus genome

2001/07/20 Carton Virto, Eider - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Genetika

The
Global Musa Genomics consortium has launched a project to sequence the banana genome. They want to finish in 2006 and believe that research will serve to create new varieties of bananas and fight diseases, especially to fight against the so-called black sigatoka.

Black zigzag is a disease caused by a fungus that spreads all over the world. In some areas it prevents 50% of the crop from farmers. Researchers know that there are species of wild bananas resistant to this fungus and want to discover the genetic origin of resistance. Small farmers are expected to increase their banana production. In fact, the International Banana Improvement Network (INIBAP) has stated that small farmers will receive free information and results of this genetic research. Commercial entities, for their part, will have to pay to access the data.

Sequencing of the banana genome is a project promoted by INIBAP in which 24 research centers will participate. Research will cost $2 million a year.

While INIBAP has announced that genome sequencing will be a breakthrough for banana producers, the project has already received several criticisms. Critics argue that there are very few groups studying bananas and that, along with genome sequencing, if no other lines of research are opened, little will come out. Some believe it is too early to sequence the banana genome, but the organization INIBAP has maintained its intention and has begun to increase financial pathways.

More information:Revista Nature:
http://www.nature.com/nsu/010719/010719-22.html INIBAP: http://www.inibap.org/