February 9, 2010

University in St. Louis unravels genetic makeup of corn

by The Associated Press

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University in St. Louis unravels genetic makeup of corn

Story Published: Nov 20, 2009 at 7:23 AM CST

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2009 at 10:25 AM CST

ST. LOUIS -- Scientists unraveled the DNA of humans and other creatures. Now, a team led by the Genome Center at Washington University has decoded the genetic makeup of a stalk of corn.

The team published the completed corn genome in the Nov. 20 journal Science. Washington University officials say it will speed efforts to develop better crop varieties and help feed the growing worldwide demand for food, livestock feed and fuel.

Corn is the nation's top crop. The corn genome consists of 32,000 genes in just 10 chromosomes. By comparison, humans have 20,000 genes in 23 chromosomes.

The $29.5 million maize sequencing project is funded by the U.S. departments of agriculture and energy and the National Science Foundation. It began in 2005.

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