| INTRODUCTION | | | | April 1, 2003 - The NIAS has established the Rice |
| Rice has been cultivated for more than 9,000 years. | | | | Genome Resource Center (RGRC). |
| Rice is a largest staple food crop worldwide that is an | | | | December 2004 - The genome sequence of the |
| important food for half the world population providing | | | | japonica cultivar Nipponbare was completed by the |
| 20% of calorific content. According to IRRI, World | | | | IRGSP. |
| rice production in 2007 was approximately 645 million | | | | August 10, 2005 - On 10th August 2005 Rice |
| tons. At least 114 countries grow rice. Asian farmers | | | | Genome Project was completed. Researchers with |
| produce about 90% of the total, with two countries, | | | | the International Rice Genome Sequencing Project |
| China and India, growing more than half the total | | | | (IRGSP) published the "finished" DNA blueprint. It was |
| crop. It is expected that the population in Asia will | | | | published in Journal Nature on 11th August. It included |
| increase by 1.5 times or more in the next 10-20 | | | | the location and sequence of over 37,500 |
| years. The current production of major food crops is | | | | protein-encoding genes in 389 million bases of DNA. |
| not sufficient to meet the growing demand so that | | | | Rice is the first crop whose genome has been |
| millions of people all over the world are not getting | | | | sequenced. Rice genome Project will give valuable |
| sufficient meals every day. The world rice production | | | | information for all scientists worldwide. It will pave a |
| must increase by 30% to keep pace with the | | | | new way for the production of rice resistant variety, |
| growing population. However, decrease in farming | | | | more yielding variety. It will also be helpful for the |
| land, reduction in the level of ground water, change in | | | | scientists to study other crops that are closely |
| climate and global warming are resulting in the | | | | related with the rice such as barley, corn, wheat |
| decreased yield of rice. Rice is also grain is fermented | | | | etc. After making the draft sequence of the |
| into wine, its straw makes cattle feed, paper, and | | | | japonica in 2002, the IRGSP scientists have increased |
| ropes. Rice oil is used in soap and cosmetics, and | | | | the quality of the sequence to 95 percent complete |
| seed hulls are used as a fuel. Rice consumes lot of | | | | at greater than 99 percent accuracy. By comparison, |
| water when compared to other crops. It typically | | | | the 3 billion-base-pair human genome, with its 25,000 |
| uses up to three times more water than other food | | | | genes, reached that quality level in 2004, some 3 |
| crops such as maize or wheat and consumes around | | | | years after its draft sequence was completed. |
| 30 percent of the fresh water used for crops | | | | |
| worldwide. In conditions where water is scarce, it is | | | | August 11, 2005 - The results of Rice Genome |
| important to have crops that can give more yield | | | | Project were published in the issue of Nature. |
| using limited amounts of water. | | | | |
| Rice has the smallest genome size of all cereals, of | | | | Major Works:- |
| around 430 million base pairs of DNA. Rice is | | | | July 2002 - the genome of rice blast disease was |
| considered a model system for plant biology largely | | | | sequenced. Rice blast disease destroys enough rice |
| due to its compact genome (430 million base pairs on | | | | to feed 60 million people worldwide. This finding will |
| its 12 chromosomes) and evolutionary relationships | | | | help in understanding the nature of the disease and |
| with other large-genome cereals, such as sorghum | | | | will take us to a solution for the rice blast disease so |
| (750 Mb), maize (2,500 Mb), barley (5,000 Mb) and | | | | that we can stop the destruction of rice by rice blast |
| wheat (15,000 Mb). Rice is the first plant to be | | | | disease. |
| mapped in a working draft form. Rice is a model | | | | Jan 2003 - Research found that about 40% of |
| species for learning about traits such as yield, hybrid | | | | rice genome comprises repetitive DNA, known as |
| vigor, and single and multi-genic disease resistance of | | | | Junk DNA, similar to that of MITEs. A 430 bp |
| all monocots including wheat and corn. Studying the | | | | sequence was found to be identical to that of MITE |
| genes of rice is will help us to develop new varieties | | | | in size and other characteristics. It was named as |
| of rice that will produce greater yields, be more | | | | mPing or miniature ping. japonica rice contains about |
| resistant to pests and disease, and grow in different | | | | 70copies of mping while indica rice about 14 copies. |
| types of climates and soils. | | | | June 2003 - Scientists Buell, Wing and their colleagues |
| | | | | compared the proteins of the chromosome 10 with |
| Rice Genome Project | | | | Arabidopsis. Chromosome 10 is the smallest |
| Science and technology has taken a new turn in the | | | | chromosome in rice. They found that about two-third |
| field of agriculture especially in the case of cereal | | | | of proteins were similar between both the plants. |
| crops. Recent research works have paved a way for | | | | This similarity was with respect to the long arm of |
| the production of more yields while the land available | | | | chromosome 10, the short arm being little or no |
| for cultivation is constantly decreasing. The | | | | matching. These proteins were produced to bind |
| sequencing of the rice genome is the greatest | | | | nucleic acid, cell growth and maintenance, immunity |
| milestone, science has taken us to. Researchers are | | | | against pathogens and for other biological processes. |
| able to develop new variety of rice that is better in | | | | Researchers also found that on Chromosome 10, 43 |
| quality and more in yield. The rice researchers are | | | | different genes were clustered in groups of three. |
| also focusing on the developing rice varieties that are | | | | These genes will help the rice to fight against |
| having better taste, aroma and high nutrition. This will | | | | pathogens. |
| also fetch good revenue to the farmers. | | | | March 2007 - Meyer and his colleagues examined the |
| Genetic research on rice was started in 1990’s. | | | | normal gene expression as well as small ribonucleic |
| The Rice Genome Research Program (RGP) was | | | | acids in rice. They studied gene sequences that |
| started in October 1991 and is an integral part of the | | | | represented nearly 47 million mRNA molecules and 3 |
| Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and | | | | million small RNA. They found that small RNA plays an |
| Fisheries (MAFF) Genome Research Project with the | | | | important role in gene regulation. "Small RNAs also |
| aim of finding the structure and function of the | | | | have been associated with other important biological |
| genome of the rice. It is jointly coordinated by the | | | | processes, such as responses to stress," Meyers said. |
| National Institute of Agro biological Sciences (NIAS), a | | | | "Many of small RNAs in rice have related sequences |
| government research institute under MAFF and the | | | | in the many important cereal crop plants, including |
| Society for Techno-innovation of Agriculture, | | | | maize and wheat." |
| Forestry and Fisheries (STAFF), a semi-private | | | | October 2007 - Already around 1 billion people have |
| research organization managed and supported by | | | | no access to drinking water. It is expected that the |
| MAFF and a consortium of some twenty Japanese | | | | demand for rice will increase by 40% by 2040 |
| companies. The research is funded with yearly grants | | | | causing severe water crisis problem study was |
| from MAFF and additional funds from the Japan | | | | conducted to grow rice with less water. The study |
| Racing Association (JRA).The first phase of RGP | | | | found that the system of rice intensification (SRI) |
| continued till 1997. It was reorganized into a national | | | | method has helped increase yields by over 30% |
| project in 1998. The research was to analyze all the | | | | — four to five tonnes per hectare instead of |
| expressed genes in rice, construction of a genetic | | | | three tonnes per hectare, while using 40% less |
| map and establishment of a physical map of the | | | | water than conventional methods. Another |
| genome. Research activities were conducted at the | | | | advantage is SRI fields do not emit methane as is |
| STAFF Institute located in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki | | | | the case with the more conventional system of |
| Prefecture, Japan, about 50 km northeast of Tokyo. | | | | growing rice. Conventional method of rice cultivation |
| During the first phase of the project from 1991 to | | | | uses 60-70 kilos of seeds per hectare; SRI requires |
| 1997, STAFF successfully found nucleotide sequences | | | | just five kilos per hectare. The SRI was based on |
| of about 20,000 genes that were expressed in rice | | | | eight principles which are different to conventional |
| and they also established a high-density linkage map | | | | rice cultivation. They include developing nutrient-rich |
| of rice with more than 3000 DNA markers accurately | | | | and un-flooded nurseries instead of flooded ones; |
| positioned in the genome. They reproduced more | | | | ensuring wider spacing between rice seedlings; |
| than 60% of the genome by using these markers to | | | | preferring composts or manure to synthetic |
| align DNA fragments cloned in yeast artificial | | | | fertilizers; and managing water carefully to avoid that |
| chromosome (YAC). With the success of the first | | | | the plants’ roots are not saturated. If the SRI |
| phase of the RGP, the MAFF planned for two | | | | method was applied to 20 million hectares of land |
| large-scale projects from 1998 with the aim of | | | | under rice cultivation in India, the country could meet |
| completely sequencing rice genome. These projects | | | | its food grain objectives of 220 million tonnes of grain |
| focused on rice genome sequencing and functional | | | | by 2012 instead of 2050. A conference was held |
| characterization of the genome which later focused | | | | from 3-5 October in Tripura. The conference was |
| on mutant panel project and full-length cDNA project. | | | | jointly organized by the Department of Agriculture of |
| The International Rice Genome Sequencing Project | | | | the Government of Tripura, the Directorate of Rice |
| (IRGSP), a consortium of publicly funded laboratories, | | | | Research (DRR), the Central Rice Research Institute |
| began in September 1997, at a workshop held in | | | | (CRRI), the Directorate of Rice Development (DRD), |
| conjunction with the International Symposium on | | | | the Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University |
| Plant Molecular Biology in Singapore, to obtain a high | | | | (ANGRAU), the National Bank for Agriculture and |
| quality, map-based sequence of the rice genome | | | | Rural Development (NABARD), Sir Dorabji Tata Trust |
| using the cultivar Nipponbare of Oryza sativa ssp. | | | | (SDTT) Mumbai and World Wide Fund for Nature |
| japonica. IRGSP is comprised of ten members: Japan, | | | | (WWF)-ICRISAT Dialogue Project based at ICRISAT, |
| India, United States of America, China, Taiwan, | | | | Patancheru. Professor Andy Pereira at the Virginia |
| Korea, Thailand, France, Brazil, and the United | | | | Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) also worked with |
| Kingdom. The IRGSP adopts the clone-by-clone | | | | colleagues in India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Mexico and |
| shotgun sequencing strategy so that each sequenced | | | | The Netherlands to identify, characterize and make |
| clone can be associated with a specific position on | | | | use of a gene known as HARDY that improves key |
| the genetic map and adheres to the policy of | | | | features of this important grain crop. The research |
| immediate release of the sequence data to the public | | | | shows that HARDY contributes to more efficient |
| domain. The largest IRGSP meeting was held on | | | | water use in rice, a primary source of food for more |
| September 19 and 20, 2000 at Clemson University in | | | | than half of the world's population. |
| South Carolina. Meeting was attended by more than | | | | August 2007 - Cell and molecular biology major |
| 70 scientists and administrators from Japan, Taiwan, | | | | Tameka Bailey’s studied certain type of proteins |
| Thailand, Korea, China, India, Brazil, France, Canada, | | | | and the molecular mechanisms that trigger rice’s |
| and the United States. The meeting was organized | | | | response to stressful conditions, such as drought, |
| by Rod Wing, U.S. IRGSP Representative (Clem-son | | | | high salinity and also to rice blast. “The proteins |
| University), and chaired by Ben Burr, IRGSP | | | | have so much power in the cell, it’s |
| Coordinator (Brookhaven National Laboratory, New | | | | amazing,” Bailey said. “They can change the |
| York), and Takuji Sasaki, Program Director of the | | | | whole fate of the plant.” Bailey also studied |
| Rice Genome Research Program (RGP) in Japan. | | | | proteins called mitogen-activated protein kinases. |
| Two complementary approaches were used, for | | | | These proteins regulate the plants’ response to |
| construction of sequence-ready physical maps. The | | | | external stimuli, such as drought or disease. The |
| Rice Genome Research Program (RGP) used the | | | | particular type of kinase Bailey studied is the last one |
| genomic clones using expressed sequence tags | | | | in a cascade of kinases that convert signals from |
| sequence-tagged sites (EST/STS) and genetic | | | | receptors into responses from the plant. She found |
| markers from the genetic and transcript maps of rice. | | | | that these proteins regulate the plants’ |
| The Clemson University Genomics Institute, the | | | | production of an acid called abscisic acid, which led to |
| Arizona Genomics Institute, and the Arizona | | | | stress tolerance in drought and high salinity conditions, |
| Genomics Computational Laboratory used a | | | | a trait that appears to be conserved in other types |
| high-throughput bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) | | | | of plants. Bailey isolated and characterized these |
| fingerprint and automatic BAC contig assembly | | | | proteins, which are responsible for activating the |
| system using FPC software, and anchored the | | | | plant’s response to stress. To give rice plants a |
| assembled contigs on the rice genome by | | | | boost in their ability to tolerate stressful conditions, |
| hybridization-based screening. The rice genome | | | | Bailey used genetic engineering to create plants that |
| project was completed in 2005. The completion of | | | | would express a great deal of the protein. To do |
| the rice genome sequence will be very helpful in the | | | | this, she inserted extra copies of the protein kinase |
| field of genetics and to combat most of the disease | | | | DNA into the DNA of a rice plant. The transgenic rice |
| of the mostly consumed crop and also to | | | | plant then expressed an abundance of that particular |
| differentiate between different rice varieties and also | | | | protein. In contrast, Bailey produced transgenic plants |
| for the study of the other monocot crops. | | | | where the protein kinase was suppressed to see |
| | | | | how the plants responded to stress in the absence |
| The major events of rice genome project are:- | | | | of the protein of interest. Her studies showed that |
| 1991 – Rice genome Project started. | | | | the extra boost of protein kinases led to increased |
| September 1997 - The International Rice Genome | | | | drought tolerance. “Those traits are really |
| Sequencing Project (IRGSP) was formed. | | | | important to rice farmers,” Bailey said. |
| 4th April 2000 - Monsanto announced that the | | | | “Making a direct contribution to this is really a plus |
| company had completed a working draft of the rice | | | | to my work.” |
| genome, which would be made available to the | | | | |
| IRGSP. | | | | CONCLUSION |
| September 19 and 20, 2000 – The largest IRGSP | | | | Rice genome Project which was completed in 2005 |
| meeting to date was held at Clemson University in | | | | has paved a way for new research. It is a model |
| South Carolina. | | | | plant for cereal crops. Sequencing of its genome has |
| 9th April 2000 - The University of Washington and | | | | opened a way for developing new varieties of rice to |
| China Released Genome Sequence of Rice. | | | | combat the pests and also to grow with less water. |
| The University of Washington (UW) rice genome | | | | RGP will also help to produce more proteins in rice |
| project was directed by Dr. Leroy Hood and | | | | that can be beneficial to mankind (ex. golden rice). |
| managed by Dr. Gregory G. Mahairas. The lab included | | | | Finding of new proteins and the genes for blast |
| 80 high-throughput DNA sequencers, robotic | | | | disease will help to produce more yields by |
| machines and powerful data processing computers. | | | | manipulating the gene responsible for blast disease. |
| Monsanto Company financed the research project. | | | | |