Scientists in Scotland decode potato genome
An international team of scientists based in Scotland has decoded the full DNA sequence of the potato for the first time. - The breakthrough holds out the promise of boosting harvests of one of the world's most important staple crops. Researchers at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee say it should soon be possible to develop improved varieties of potato much more quickly. The genome of an organism is a map of how all of its genes are put together. Each gene controls different aspects of how the organism grows and develops. Slight changes in these instructions give rise to different varieties. Each individual has a slightly different version of the DNA sequence for the species. Professor Iain Gordon, chief executive of the James Hutton Institute, said decoding the potato genome should enable breeders to create varieties which are more nutritious, as well as resistant to pests and diseases.