By King Abdullah
The genes that could help the world's crops survive drought, heat, and disease probably already exist. But much of this genetic diversity remains hidden within ancient plant varieties and forgotten seed collections, among millions of DNA differences that are difficult to spot. Now, a new way of reading crop genomes is helping scientists uncover these variations.
Reading crop genomes with k-mers
Instead of comparing plant DNA to a single reference genome, researchers are beginning to scan genomes as collections of tiny fragments known as k-mers. These short strings of genetic code, typically a few dozen DNA bases long, act like molecular barcodes, allowing scientists to quickly identify which fragments appear in which plants. That makes it possible to compare genetic variation across thousands of samples simultaneously.
The approach is opening a new window into the vast genetic diversity within corn, rice, and other major food crops that feed billions of people but face growing pressure from climate change. Scientists at KAUST are at the forefront of this work, and their recent research is published in the journal Nature Genetics.
From large-scale genomic surveys of bread wheat and its wild relatives to new strategies for mining diversity in global seed banks, researchers are showing how k-mer–based analyses can identify rare genetic differences that were lost as crops were bred into modern varieties. Because the method can scan thousands of plants at once, it helps quickly pinpoint where useful traits exist across large seed collections.
These tools are beginning to transform seed banks from static archives into dynamic research resources, helping breeders identify plants that carry valuable traits.
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