Canada
September 19, 2006
Farmscape
(Episode 2250)
Source:
http://www.farmscape.ca/f1Scripts.aspx
Charles Pick,
Business Development Manager,
DNA LandMarks Inc.
"A Montreal based genomics
firm is confident DNA technology holds the key to determining
wheat variety without the need for visual identification.
"In hopes of eliminating the need
for regulations which prohibit the registration of wheat
varieties which appear similar Canada Western Red Spring or
Canada Western Amber Durum, several organizations are seeking
alternatives to visual identification.
"One such project, being conducted
by DNA LandMarks in partnership with the Canadian Grain
Commission with funding provided by the Manitoba Rural
Adaptation Council looks at DNA marker analysis in individual
kernels.
DNA LandMarks business development
manager Charles Pick explains one of the things genetic markers
can be used for is to identify uniqueness in varieties so it
becomes an alternative to kernel visual distinguishability.
|
 Charles
Pick
DNA LandMarks Inc.
"Every plant has its own unique genetic
fingerprint. This is used in plant breeding and plant research
to distinguish one variety from another.
"To identify individual wheat varieties, we use a library of
genetic markers for wheat that has been developed.
"These
are publicly available genetic markers. We run
the same set of markers on all of the commercially
available wheat varieties in western Canada.
"Each one generates a unique fingerprint, which
is stored in a database that correlates back to
the varieties.
"Then, in order to determine which variety
a
kernel belongs to, you extract DNA from the kernel
and compare it to the database. This will tell you exactly
to which variety the kernel belongs." |
"Pick says, with the right
equipment, modern DNA analysis can be done fairly quickly.
"He suggests down the road, as
these technologies become more portable and user friendly, it
could be possible to conduct the analysis right in the field.
For Farmscape.ca, I'm Bruce
Cochrane."
*Farmscape is a presentation of
Sask Pork and
Manitoba Pork Council |
