Banana to be Sequenced

GodsMadClown writes "New Scientist reports that a global consortium plans to sequence the genetic code of a wild banana from east Asia. Because bananas are triploidal instead of diploidal, they are only able to reproduce asexually, which means that it adapts slower than organisms reproducing sexually. 'One rule of joining the consortium is that any invention developed through the project and protected [by patent] will be made available to smallholders through a royalty-free license,' says Emile Frison, director of the International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain."

Comments

Bananas being sequenced... why?

[phreak404]

The original story description was entirely non-coherent. So for anyone who actually cares, according to the article, bananas are being sequenced because the varieties favored by Western civilization are a nautral hybrid, and also happen to be sterile. This makes it impossible to crossbreed with Asian varieties that are more resistant to pests and diseases, hence, gene sequencing... all so that CostaRicans can use less pesticides, make more money from all of us banana loving Westerners.

Re:Bananas being sequenced... why?

[tjensor]

There is very good reason for genetic research into Bananas. Almost all Banans eaten in the world are from a single species, which is almost sterile - note the lack of seeds in your lunchtime Banana. There are several diseases which, if they got into the main Banana growing parts of the world, could seriously threaten the very existence of the Banana. This would be devastating for many small, poor countries, as they not only rely on the Banana economically, but as a staple food as well. Check out this months New Scientist.

Re:Bananas being sequenced... why?

[videodriverguy]

Reading the article, it appears that these diseases are already in the major growing areas. And also, contrary to a previous post, these diseases mutate to resist traditional remedies so fast that treatment (pesticides) is not an option. Therefore there is a real urgency to this research - if not completed, there seems to be a real chance that the banana as we know it will simply be extinct.

A more important point is that although GM may well be a cure, it remains to be seen whether or not consumers would accept modified bananas.

Re:Bananas being sequenced... why?

[ynohoo]

Today's guardian has an article about these fungal diseases which threaten this staple of many poorer countries "Yes - in 10 years we may have no bananas" so this reseach comes not a moment to soon. Apparently some Honduran scientists peeled and sieved 400 tonnes of bananas to find just 15 seeds for breeding - and have come up with a fungus resistant variety which can be grown organically, so hopefully the GM route maybe a non-starter...

The problem of asexually reproducing crops

[axolotl_farmer]

The kind of bananas the we buy in our stores are triploid hybrids. This means that they are sterile and produce no seeds. They are reproduced from cuttings of the creeping underground stem, the 'banana trees' are actually upshoot from this.

They downside is that all cuttings are genetically identical, so if a new disease or pest comes along, ALL commercial bananas are threatened. With other crops, crossbreeding with other strains can improve the resistance to the pests.

Introducing resistance genes in commercial bananas can only be done by genetic engineering. Remember that there are still wild sexually reproducing bananas out there, so maybe we will be eating hybrids of other species in the future.

Re:I'm confused

[Hairy Fop]

Any plants with flowers are examples of sexual reproduction in plants. The pollen of one flower being transferred to the stamen of another by insects is an example of sexual reproduction.

Genes are combined from two different sets to produce a single gene set and a new seed (now that's sexual).

Re:Doom and gloom in the world of nanas

[Anonymous Coward]

Banana -
(Musa sapientum) Technically speaking, the banana is a herb due to the
fact it is part of the flower made by the female plant. Botanically speaking,
it's a berry, due to the fact it's a fruit that developes from a plant ovary and
has little seeds.

funny, i was *just* reading about this

[lingqi]

here on SciAm they have some cool stuff about this in general.

on the other hand - I have to wonder, while interesting how does this article fit in slashdot?

Re:I'm confused

[20_ooodbye]

There seems to be a bit of confusion caused by the terms diploid and triploid.
These terms refer to the number of sets of chromosomes each cell of an organism carries. Diploid is like us with 2 sets triploid is predictably 3 sets. Having 3 sets of chroromsomes is no problem untill you have to half the chrosomme number in making gametes (sperms, egg, pollen etc) A triploid organism can't make viable gametes, so is sterile.

Not all Bananas are triploid though, we reproduce triploid ones because not bothering with reproduction they are more vigorous in there growth and wont make seeds. Seedless watermelons are triploid and there are even (engineered) triploid carp, used to clear weed from lakes etc but denied the chance to reproduce and start a population

What about strawberries?

[Cokelee]

Bananas:

1. Clone
2. Insert DNA
3. ???
4. Profit!

Seriously, most strawberries are quadriploidal (4N), by design. They are larger this way, what about research in this direction? I'd be much angrier if there were no strawberries!

Re:Doom and gloom in the world of nanas

[Max Romantschuk]

N-ploid means N sets of chromosomes. Humans are diploid, having two sets. The general term is polyploid for three or more sets of chromosomes. See link for more info (in English).