Largest Genome Sequenced: Loblolly Pine's Genetic Code Is 7 Times Larger Than A Human’s
Source: International Business Times
Largest Genome Sequenced: Loblolly Pine's Genetic Code Is 7 Times Larger Than A Human’s
By Kukil Bora
on March 21 2014 1:36 AM
A team of researchers have sequenced the genome of the Pinus taeda, commonly known as the loblolly pine, and found that the tree’s genetic code -- seven times larger than a human’s -- is the largest and the most complete conifer genome ever sequenced.
According to the study, the sequencing of the loblolly pine's genome was completed by using a faster and more efficient analytical process, including advanced computer technology. The genome sequence of the tree, which is the most commercially important tree species in the U.S., is expected to help scientists breed improved varieties of the pine and better understand the evolution and diversity of plants.
“It’s a huge genome,” David Neale of the University of California, Davis, who led the research, said in a statement. “But the challenge isn’t just collecting all the sequence data. The problem is assembling that sequence into order.”
The loblolly pine is one of several pines native to the southeastern U.S., spreading eastward from central Texas to Florida, and northward to Delaware and southern New Jersey. The tree is milled for building lumber and paper, while it is also the primary source of pulpwood and saw timber for the country's forest products industry.
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Read more: http://www.ibtimes.com/largest-genome-sequenced-loblolly-pines-genetic-code-7-times-larger-humans-1562767
