DNA rice breakthrough

This watershed moment in rice research speaks of a potential green revolution

Rice researchers and agro scientists have recently completed the DNA sequencing of more than 3,000 of the world’s most popularly grown types of rice stored in the Philippines. The outcome of experiments that used the state-of-the-art-technology has been more than just positive. By unlocking a huge pool of data, they have voiced that rice breeders across the globe will soon be enabled to produce higher-yielding varieties more quickly and that too, under increasingly hectic conditions.
Such watershed moment in rice research speaks of a potential ‘green revolution’. However, a lot more is still needed to fully capitalize on the recently conducted DNA sequencing tests for bringing about the much desired green revolution. During the last century, breeders depended on isolated traits, such as high yields and disease resistance, usually developed through cross breeding. They, however, did not know which genes controlled which traits, leaving much of the effort to lengthy guesswork. Now the latest breakthrough in molecular genetics promises to fast-track the process by eliminating the lengthy guesswork. Also better rice varieties can now be expected to be developed and passed on to farmers' hands in less than three years, compared to the previous 12 years without any guidance from DNA sequencing.
Back at the home front, our local scientists have come up with promising discoveries in the field of rice research too. Less than six months ago,  our scientists were reported to have successfully developed four transgenic rice varieties capable of being cultivated in high soil salinity, far better than the ones now available in the market which were derived from conventional breeding. Success stories of experiments in laboratories and small scale productions are many, but Bangladesh like the rest of the world, has to build on these ground breaking discoveries.
More importantly, the leading countries in rice research will have to gather and function from a single platform for revolutionizing rice breeding. Breeders, farmers and scientists will need to systematically communicate and coordinate large-scale rice production. Acquired knowledge has to be shared and transferred for a common goal – green revolution. It needs to be remembered that even though the DNA breakthrough has generated much optimism but according to experts it is not the magic solution for all rice-growing problems and genetically modifying is also necessary. Threats to huge-scale rice growing and cultivation in adverse climactic conditions will have to be adequately dealt with.
But quite often, the term ‘green revolution’ has had an entirely different meaning to most people in the affluent nations of the privileged world than to those in the developing nations. Let the new breakthroughs in rice research lead the world to a single global meaning.

DNA rice breakthrough

This watershed moment in rice research speaks of a potential green revolution

Rice researchers and agro scientists have recently completed the DNA sequencing of more than 3,000 of the worlds most popularly grown types of rice stored in the Philippines. The outcome of experiments that used the state-of-the-art-technology has been more than just positive. By unlocking a huge pool of data, they have voiced that rice breeders across the globe will soon be enabled to produce higher-yielding varieties more quickly and that too, under increasingly hectic conditions. Such watershed moment in rice research speaks of a potential green revolution. However, a lot more is still needed to fully capitalize on the recently conducted DNA sequencing tests for bringing about the much desired green revolution. During the last century, breeders depended on isolated traits, such as high yields and disease resistance, usually developed through cross breeding. They, however, did not know which genes controlled which traits, leaving much of the effort to lengthy guesswork. Now the latest breakthrough in molecular genetics promises to fast-track the process by eliminating the lengthy guesswork. Also better rice varieties can now be expected to be developed and passed on to farmers hands in less than three years, compared to the previous 12 years without any guidance from DNA sequencing. Back at the home front, our local scientists have come up with promising discoveries in the field of rice research too. Less than six months ago, our scientists were reported to have successfully developed four transgenic rice varieties capable of being cultivated in high soil salinity, far better than the ones now available in the market which were derived from conventional breeding. Success stories of experiments in laboratories and small scale productions are many, but Bangladesh like the rest of the world, has to build on these ground breaking discoveries. More importantly, the leading countries in rice research will have to gather and function from a single platform for revolutionizing rice breeding. Breeders, farmers and scientists will need to systematically communicate and coordinate large-scale rice production. Acquired knowledge has to be shared and transferred for a common goal green revolution. It needs to be remembered that even though the DNA breakthrough has generated much optimism but according to experts it is not the magic solution for all rice-growing problems and genetically modifying is also necessary. Threats to huge-scale rice growing and cultivation in adverse climactic conditions will have to be adequately dealt with. But quite often, the term green revolution has had an entirely different meaning to most people in the affluent nations of the privileged world than to those in the developing nations. Let the new breakthroughs in rice research lead the world to a single global meaning.