Partners Announce Progress on Sequence and Analysis of Jatropha Genome Knowledge of the plant and environment genomes will foster the development of improved plant feedstocks, biofertilizers, plant disease diagnostic and control solutions and renewable fuels
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia and LA JOLLA, Calif., May 21 /PRNewswire/ --
Asiatic Centre for Genome Technology Sdn Bhd (ACGT), which is focused on the
commercial application of genome technology to improve oil palm and other
crops and Synthetic Genomics Inc. (SGI), a privately held company dedicated to
commercializing genomic-driven solutions to address global energy and
environmental challenges, today announced the completion of a first draft
assembly and annotation of the oil palm genome. The organizations also
announced that they have made progress in sequencing and analyzing the
jatropha genome. The oil palm and jatropha genome projects represent the first
stages of research undertaken through a joint venture between SGI and ACGT
which was announced in 2007 and is aimed at developing more high-yielding and
disease-resistant plant feedstocks. ACGT is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Asiatic Development Berhad, an oil palm plantation company listed on Bursa
Malaysia (Malaysian Stock Exchange) and a member of the Genting Group.
The oil palm genome is approximately 1.8 billion base pairs in size, about
four times the size of the rice genome and two thirds the size of the maize
genome. The groups sequenced a combination of two oil palm races -- tenera and
dura, to produce seven-fold coverage of the plant's genome, which represents
the most comprehensive sequence and analysis of this genome. SGI and ACGT will
continue to do additional sequencing and analysis of the oil palm genome and
when completed, this will become the reference genome.
The Companies are also conducting an in-depth genomic, physiological and
biochemical analysis of jatropha, a robust oil seed crop whose oil is suitable
for conversion into cleaner, renewable fuels. Jatropha readily grows on
marginal lands not used for food production. Since jatropha is a non-
domesticated crop with few published studies, it has significant potential for
improvements in yield and agronomic properties. The jatropha genome is 500
million base pairs in size, similar to the size of the rice genome. The
organizations will continue to sequence and analyze the jatropha genome to
achieve ten-fold coverage.
"The genome sequences of these highly productive oilseed crops will enable
the in-depth understanding of genes encoding for plant yield and health and
foster the development of improved plant varieties. We are also characterizing
the important microbes living in the environments around these plants," said
J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Synthetic Genomics. "Our goal is to
harness this knowledge to produce improved feedstocks, renewable fuels,
biofertilizers, and disease-control solutions."
The draft oil palm genome is already yielding important information
including unique genetic variations linked to traits that differ in the two
races. One example of this pertains to kernel shell thickness which differs
between the two. Since fruits with thinner kernel shells yield more oil, the
groups are seeking to understand the genetic basis for shell thickness. These
molecular markers and others can be used in breeding and tissue-culture based
approaches to address plant yield, oil quality, growth and height and other
important properties, including fertilizer requirements and stress and disease
tolerance.
"The completion of the first draft sequence of the oil palm genome and
progress on the jatropha genome are significant milestones towards the genetic
improvement of these inherently high yielding oil crops. Unlocking the
knowledge encoded in the genomes could further increase our understanding of
these important crops which could lead to substantially improved oil yield.
With such enhanced productivity, growing oil palm and jatropha could be the
sustainable solution to fulfilling the world's need for a wide variety of
products," said Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chief Executive of Asiatic Development
Berhad.
SGI and ACGT are also using environmental genomic techniques to sequence
and analyze the root, soil and leaf microbial communities surrounding the oil
palm and jatropha plants. Understanding the oil palm and jatropha genomes and
their environments will enable the groups to develop diagnostic tests for
plant diseases as well as agents for their control, leading to healthier and
more productive crops. These genomic-based interventions will contribute to
more efficient land usage with higher agricultural yield and more sustainable
development with improved stewardship of the plantation environment.
About Asiatic Development Berhad
Asiatic Development Berhad ("Asiatic"), a 55%-owned subsidiary of Genting
Berhad, commenced its operations in 1980 as the plantation arm of the Genting
Group. Over the years, the Asiatic Group had embarked on several significant
acquisitions in Malaysia, thus increasing its land bank from a mere 13,700
hectares in 1980 to nearly 66,000 hectares currently. In line with its long
term strategy, the Asiatic Group had, in June 2005, further expanded its
operations to Indonesia, on a joint venture basis, to develop some 98,300
hectares. The Asiatic Group also owns 5 oil mills with a total milling
capacity of 235 tonnes per hour and is reputed to be one of the lowest cost
palm oil producers with fresh fruit bunches production of over one million
tonnes. Asiatic is one of the early members of the Roundtable on Sustainable
Palm Oil (RSPO). For more information, visit www.asiatic.com.my.
About Synthetic Genomics Inc.
Synthetic Genomics Inc., a privately held company founded in 2005, is
dedicated to developing and commercializing genomic-driven solutions to
address global energy and environmental challenges. Advances in synthetic
genomics present limitless applications in a variety of product areas
including: energy, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The company's main research
and business programs are focused on major bioenergy areas: designing advanced
biofuels with superior properties compared to ethanol and biodiesel;
harnessing photosynthetic organisms to produce value added products directly
from sunlight and carbon dioxide; developing new biological solutions to
increase production and/or recovery rates of subsurface hydrocarbons and
developing high-yielding, more disease resistant and economic feedstocks. For
more information, visit www.syntheticgenomics.com.
SOURCE Synthetic Genomics Inc.
