How can we use science and technology to solve world food crisis? M. Menz

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How can we use science and technology to solve
world food crisis?M. Menz
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Food supply challenges

• Greater demand
• Resource scarcity (land, water, fuel based N, P,
  etc.)
• Climate change
• Less water
• Higher pressure for pest and disease

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Exploit genetic variation to create better
varieties
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Most of the differences among individuals are
heritable, i.e., are genetics
DNA

Chromosomes
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Different codons produce different aa and so
different proteins
GC
3 changes like these in just one gene allow H.
sapiens to talk!
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Genetic Principles
DNA
Different forms of one gene are alleles.
Different alleles gt Diff. phenotype
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Gene to Phenotype
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Genetic Map
Linear representation of markers along a
chromosome
Cytogenetic location of Sorghum BACs on Sorghum
Chromosome 1
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Molecular markers can be used to determine the
genotype

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We can select based on genetic information
Resistant
Susceptible
Marker analysis at seedling stage
Selection of individual plants with the desirable
trait
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or construct new types of plants
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Biotrove OpenArray System
33 nanoliter reaction
3,072 through-holes /array
User Loads OpenArrays
BioTrove Software Data Capture analysis
Export to Database
OpenArray NT-Cycler Automated 3 hours
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Affymetrix GeneChip for RNA and DNA Profiling
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Feature Probes with Same Sequence
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GeneChip Chip and Fluidic Chamber
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Probe Cell Millions of Probes
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Chip gt1 Million Probe Cell
Probe 25mer DNA Oligo

• Broad coverage Survey up to 32.5 million bases
  - 50K gene sequences in one assay
• Markers on genes Functional markers that could
  be responsible for complex traits
• Fast and cost-effective From DNA to data in a
  few days