AGRICULTURE REPORT - Genetic Map of Rice

AGRICULTURE REPORT
–
April 23, 2002: Genetic¹ Map of Rice

By George Grow

This is the VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT.

Scientists have identified almost all the genes² found in rice. Two teams published separate versions of the genetic
information for rice plants this month. This is the first time scientists have mapped the genes of an important
crop.

The scientists say this genetic information could lead to improved kinds of rice and
better rice production in developing countries. They also expect the information to
be useful in improving other grains, such as corn and wheat.

Rice feeds more than half the world’s population. However, weather conditions,
disease and insects can restrict its production. That may change because of the
efforts of the scientific teams. They reported their findings in the publication

Science.

One group was led by Jun Yu of the Beijing Genomics Institute in China and the University of Washington in
Seattle. His group studied indica, the rice most commonly grown in China. The group says it has identified more
than ninety percent of the genes in indica rica.

The other scientists work for Syngenta company based in Switzerland. They did the research at the company
’
s
Torrey Mesa Research Institute in La Jolla (La HOY-ah) California. They created a map of japonica, a short-
grain rice grown in warm climates. Syngenta claims its map is more than ninety-nine percent complete and
ninety-nine percent correct.

Both teams say they are sharing their findings with the public on the Internet computer system. A third team led
by Japanese scientists is working independently to produce a genetic map of rice. It expects to produce another
version of the rice genome later this year.

The chief editor of Science magazine said he believes the rice genome could prove more important in the next
few years than the human genome. He noted³ that more people depend on rice than any other crop.

Science magazine published a commentary⁴ with one of the reports. Jeffrey Bennetzen of Purdue University in
Indiana noted that the scientists found that rice has more genes than a number of other organisms. The studies
found that a rice plant has between forty-five-thousand and fifty-five -thousand genes. Humans are believed to
have about thirty-five -thousand genes.

This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by George Grow.

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1 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

2 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 commentary   

n.评论，评注；实况广播报导，现场口头评述

参考例句：

• He is giving the commentary on the basketball game.他正在对篮球赛作评论。
• His running commentary on the football match was excellent.他对这次足球赛所作的实况报道十分精彩。