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| News Around World |
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| Rice harvest riding on rice super-gene |
Researchers in China have
come up with a breakthrough by identifying the gene that plays a linchpin
role in determining the harvest potential of rice. In the study released
by Nature Genetics, the gene, Ghd7, was identified by researchers
from the Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan. The productivity
of rice is determined by several traits, number and size of grains,
height of plant, flowering time which relects its response to the
climate. |
| A
few genetic changes is the main reason behind bigger tomatoes, according
to research by scientists of Cornell University. Neither fertilizer
nor perfect soil conditions may be crucial in inducing tomatoes to grow
up to 1000 times bigger than their ancestors. Without these changes,
tomatoes would be little more than berries on a bush. |
| Human infection with the avian flu virus H5N1 had been first reported in 1997. Since then, it has grown into one of the world's most feared pandamics with more than 370 confirmed cases of human infection and a high mortality rate. In a breakthrough, collaboration between scientists from America and Turkey has resulted in the establishment of the first comprehensive antibody library using samples from survivors of the 2005/2006 outbreak. The library holds great promise in the development of a therapy that could stem a pandemic and provide treatment to the infected. |
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