An interdisciplinary research team from the University of G??ttingen has
developed a new methodological approach to complete genetic dataand fill
in the gaps in sequencing.

Genetic information is indispensable for modern plant breeding. In
previous years,DNA sequencinghas become much cheaper, but collecting
full genetic information still accounts for a large part of the costs in
animal and plant breeding. One trick that many scientists use to reduce
these costs is to sequence only a very small and randomly selected part
of the genome and to complete the remaining gaps using mathematical and
statistical techniques.

Dr. Torsten Pook from the Center for Integrated Breeding Research at
G??ttingen University said, "In breeding populations, the sequences
completed using this new method have quality comparable to collecting a
hundred times as much information from the DNA strand." The researchers
aim to develop maize plants with low susceptibility to frost and drought
damage. KWS Saat SE, a partner in the project, is already using the
method in breeding programs because of its cost efficiency.

Information for the Media - Georg-August-Universit?¤t G??ttingen
(uni-goettingen.de) [www.uni-goettingen.de]