Latest wheat assembly now available in Ensembl
New wheat genome assembly IWGSC RefSeq v1.0, which ‘maps’ the highly complex wheat genome is now available through EMBL-EBI’s Ensembl Plants
Summary
- The International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium’s RefSeq v1.0 wheat genome assembly is now available without restriction in Ensembl Plants
- The new genome assembly is the first chromosome-scale assembly allowing researchers to precisely target functional genes
- Understanding the wheat genome is essential for breeding more resilient wheat to help feed the growing global population
18 July, Hinxton – The latest wheat genome assembly, IWGSC RefSeq assembly v1.0, is available in the latest release of EMBL-EBI’s Ensembl Plants, made live on 17 July, 2018.
The new assembly, produced by the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC) is the first chromosome-scale assembly and allows researchers to pinpoint where in the highly complex genome a certain gene is located. The new assembly is also approximately 100 times less fragmented than the previous one, making it easier for researchers to accurately combine desirable traits, such as high yield and disease-resistant genes, thus producing superior wheat varieties.
Modern bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most important crops globally, with 35% of the world’s population depending on this staple crop for survival. Wheat is also notorious for having a highly complex genome; it features six copies of each of its seven chromosomes – making it about five times larger than the human genome.
“The previous wheat genome assembly gave us a comprehensive list of genes, while the new assembly is finally revealing what wheat scientists have been wanting to know for a very long time - where exactly certain genes are located within the genome,” explains Dan Bolser, Ensembl Plants Project Leader at EMBL-EBI. “We expect the new wheat genome assembly will drive a new wave of research that will help improve wheat yields and increase resistance.”
Read more about the story on the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium news page or the Ensembl blog.
Read more about Ensembl Genomes 40.
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