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Mapping the way to better crops
Clemson
scientists are improving major food and fiber crops by identifying the
specific genes which control flavor, yield, quality, and resistance to
diseases and pests. The National Science Foundation helped Clemson's
Genomics Institute acquire state-of-the-art equipment to map the entire
genetic blueprint of plants, fungi, and insects.
A
computerized robot and a completely automated system for genetic mapping
and DNA sequencing sets the institute apart from other facilities in the
country. Clemson researchers
are using this equipment to mass-produce libraries of genetic information
for use by researchers around the world.
The
scientists are also working with the National Science Foundation's plant
genome initiative to develop a genetic blueprint of corn, identify and
characterize the genes that control fiber quality in cotton, identify
the genetic links in cereal crops - such as sorghum, rice, and corn -
and identify the genes that control fruit quality and shelf life in tomato.
A state-of-the-art agricultural biotechnology and molecular biology research complex is being developed through the support of South Carolina's General Assembly.
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