Bangkok, Thailand
October 31, 2005
By Pongpen Sutharoj,
The Nation via
Checkbiotech
A group of Thai biotechnologists
has patented a group of genes in the rice plant that they claim
are responsible for producing aromatic grain.
Patent registration with the
US Patent and Trademark Office
is being followed by patent applications in another seven
countries. The leader of the Thailand Rice Genome Project,
Apichart Wannavijitr, said yesterday it was the first time Thai
researchers had received patent protection for genetic material
and showed that Thailand’s capacity in biotechnology was up with
that in the rest of the world.
The project is a collaboration between the
National Centre for Genetic
Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotec) and
Kasetsart University. The
dis-covery was made last year and the patent registered earlier
this year.
Biotec’s director, Morakot Tanticharoen, said the team had spent
several years studying the rice genome to discover the genes in
Thai jasmine rice that gave it its unique fragrance.
The sequence of genes giving a rice plant a fragrant aroma is
now not only known but can also be used to create aromatic
qualities in ordinary, non-aromatic rice varieties, she said.
The researchers found that fragrant rice was the result of a
genetic mutation, the plant actually having abnormal genes.
In the gene sequence of Thai jasmine rice, eight genetic
“characters” are not working.
The rice genome has about 50,000 genes. This discovery led
researchers to conclude that if the same eight characters were
stopped in other rice varieties, they would develop aromatic
qualities, she said.
Laboratory tests on non-fragrant Japanese rice successfully
changed it into fragrant rice.
With this technique, researchers can improve other rice breeds
to produce a better fragrance.
It can also be applied to improving other crops, including
wheat, corn, soybeans and coconuts, Morakot said.
Apichart said it was important for Thailand to register the
patent so as to keep the benefits for Thailand.
As well as the US, the research team is applying for patents in
Australia, France, China, Vietnam, Japan, India and the
Philippines. Among them are the country’s main rice-growing
competitors.
Morakot said the patent registration was aimed at protecting
Thailand’s intellectual property in having found the aroma gene
and also its use to boost local rice-breeding efforts.
In addition, the team has also developed a molecular marker for
the aroma genes, called Aromaker. It will substantially shorten
the time needed to develop new varieties.
According to the Office of Economic Agriculture, Thailand’s
total rice exports in 2004 were worth Bt108 billion. Of this,
aromatic rice exports were valued at Bt35 billion.
Morakot said the improvement of aromatic rice would not only
help farmers produce better-quality grain but would also
generate more export income.
The new discoveries of the Thailand Rice Genome Project will be
showcased at Bio Thailand 2005, the country’s largest
biotechnology exhibition, opening on Wednesday at the Queen
Sirikit National Convention Centre.
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