Centre of Plant Structural and
Functional Genomics
of the Institute of Experimental Botany AS CR

Genetic blueprint of bread wheat genome unveiled.  The last step before obtaining the complete DNA sequence of important crops. The genetic blueprint is an invaluable resource to plant science researchers and breeders. For the first time, they have at their disposal a set of tools enabling them to rapidly locate specific genes on individual wheat chromosomes throughout the genome. The team of Professor Jaroslav Doležel developed the chromosome-based strategy to unlock the complex genome of wheat, which is about six times larger the human genome. The team established a unique set of tools for purification of individual chromosomes and they produce chromosome-specific molecular resources for members of IWGSC. This facilitates sequencing the wheat genome following the chromosome by chromosome strategy. Thanks to this, the Czech scientists participate on sequencing all 21 chromosomes of wheat.