Earlier this month scientists cracked the genome for the potato blight that caused the Irish Potato Famine. Now, the Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium has published a draft sequence covering 95 percent of the potato genome, a process that began in 2006. The potato genome is about a quarter the size of our human one.
This genome is especially helpful for potato breeders looking to identify traits such as drought tolerance and disease resistance. Michigan State University scientists were among the 39 consortium participants, and according to their site the typical American eats 119 pounds of potatoes annually. That sounds wrong, and yet so right. Maybe we've got potatoes in our genes.
Image: Mapping the DNA of tuber skin color. Credit: MPI for Plant Breeding Research.
Tags: Biotechnology, DNA, Food Sources, Genes, Genetic Science,
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