Researchers of cotton genomic map recognised
18/01/2013
The team led the collaborative international effort to complete the first 'gold standard' Gossypium [cotton] genome sequence. The sequence provides the reference blueprint that will revolutionise cotton genetic improvement in the next five to 10 years.
More than a decade ago, the cotton research community began a conversation to determine the appropriate path to sequence the genomes of Gossypium. At the time, the community, via the International Cotton Genome Initiative, determined the best route was to first sequence the ancestors of upland cotton. This group of five from diverse scientific disciplines spearheaded the effort that was published in Nature magazine on December 20, 2012.
Dr Josh Udall, a professor at Brigham Young University in the US, said: "This gold standard sequence will be a meaningful foundation for all future genetic and biotechnological improvements of cotton and the significance of its publication cannot be overstated. For example, we now have a finite count, position and genomic context for genes within a cotton plant."
Dr Robert Wright, a professor at Texas Tech University, added: "Many individuals contributed to the background knowledge that led to this research; however, these five were the core group that contributed most significantly to the project, the interpretation of data and writing of the Nature manuscript."
Cotton Incorporated, a research company funded by US growers of upland cotton and importers of cotton and cotton textile products, invested into the project, and its director of agricultural and environmental research, Mr Jones, presented the award to Dr Andrew Paterson, Dr Jonathan Wendel, Jeremy Schmutz, Dr Dan Peterson and Dr Dan Rokhsar.
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