Draft for rice genome

A collaborative global effort has resulted in the completion of an advanced draft, or blueprint, of the rice genome. Officials at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the milestone earlier this week.

The move concludes the second phase of the rice-sequencing effort initiated under the co-ordination of the Japanese Rice Genome Program to improve the quality and increase yields of a staple consumed by across the world.

"Decoding the rice genome is an important scientific achievement that can lead to improved nutrition and aid in efforts to eliminate hunger throughout the world,"​ said US Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman. "This scientific partnership between the United States and Japan continues to demonstrate our commitment to advancing research and science."​

Launched in 1998, the project is a multinational effort to map the rice genome's 12 chromosomes. USDA, NSF and DOE provided a total of $14.4 million (€14m) in US funds. In addition to the United States and Japan, participating countries include Brazil, China, France, India, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand as well as European Union members.

Overall, the US rice genome effort is part of the national plant genome initiative to understand the structure and function of genes in plants important to agriculture, the environment and health.

NSF director Rita R. Colwell commented:"The rice genome's sequence is crucial to our scientific understanding of the staples of life. With this data we open new doors at all levels of research: the universities, private industry and government."​

"Sequencing the rice genome is a wonderful example of global partnerships that can define future efforts in science research,"​ said Raymond L. Orbach, director of DOE's Office of Science. "This accomplishment in plant genomics can open global opportunities for new uses of plants in energy and environmental resource management."​