Scientist Finds Quick Way to Plant’s Genes

Scientists at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., are developing a method they said could help find the genetic basis for plant variation.

The approach combines new and existing technologies, offering researchers a tool to pinpoint genetic differences faster than they can now. The method allowed the research team to find differences in a single gene that governs a specific trait among naturally occurring plant populations.

We’ve combined a variety of techniques to get at the gene behind a specific trait, said David Salt, a horticulture professor at Purdue University. If picked up broadly, the approach could have an important impact on the activities of other (biology) laboratories.

Salt’s method combines the new technology of DNA microarrays with information available from a genetic database to basically sidestep the drawn-out processes once used to identify similar genetic variations.

By looking at natural variation, which we assume to be adaptive, we might be able to better understand why the organism evolved to be that way, Salt said. This could be of value in many areas of biology.