Metro

Wednesday November 4, 2009

USM decodes rubber tree genome

By K. KASTURI DEWI


UNIVERSITI Sains Malaysia (USM)’s Centre for Chemical Biology (CCB@USM) has unveiled the first-ever draft of the hevea brasiliensis rubber tree genome in the world and likely position Malaysia as the leading quality rubber producer in the world.

The centre’s deputy director (Research) Prof Nazalan Najimudin said a week ago that the decoding of the draft of the two billion-base genome took almost a year to be completed.

He said the DNA map would most likely see Malaysia taking over as the leading rubber producer in the world from Thailand and Indonesia.

Prof Nazalan said the genomic data obtained by the breakthrough would facilitate significant development especially in rubber tree breeding.

Dr Wan Abdul Rahaman (right), Khaled (second right) and Prof Dzulkifli (left) with a rubber tree sapling.

“This (DNA map) will lead us to being able to identify and pick out characteristics of a rubber tree at a much faster speed.

“For example, we have to wait between five to seven years to see if a tree could produce a good amount of latex but with this (DNA map), we will be able to determine in just a week’s time if a rubber sapling would be able to produce latex,” he said after the disclosure of the breakthrough by CCB@USM which was announced by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

He said the genomic data could also be used to track development of rubber trees with favourable traits such as disease resistance and the improvement of properties of rubberwood which is an important export of Malaysia.

Earlier in his speech, Mohamed Khaled said decoding the rubber tree genome would lead to end products being used worldwide to support a multi-billion dollar global industry.

He said USM would be working with Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation on future spin-offs.

Khaled also said CCB@USM’s achievement was part of USM’s overall scheme of ‘Transforming Higher Education for a Sustainable Tomorrow’.

He said the effort of institutions of higher learning such as USM in the field of research and development would help accelerate the national objective of achieving an innovation-based economy.

Also present were USM vice-chancellor Prof Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, CCB@USM’s chief executive officer Prof Maqsudul Alam and Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation Sdn Bhd chief operating officer Dr Wan Abdul Rahaman Wan Yaacob.

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