The institution explained that the publication in the journal Science summarized the work of the international consortium sequencing the genome of wheat, which was attended by representatives from 73 organizations from 20 countries. Russia in this project since 2007, represented the itsig so ran, and in 2014 joined the Institute of bioengineering Russian Academy of Sciences and Moscow state University.

"The result of years of work of the consortium was to establish the reference sequence of the genome of this leading agricultural crops. In other words, instead of a chaotic set of short sequences (normal sequencing), sequence was collected and ordered along the 21 chromosomes, and the genes identified using specialized programs", — stated in the message.

The Institute noted that the reference genomes are used as templates by which to quickly and cheaply build new genomes of this species to create new varieties with desired characteristics. In this sense, the study of the genome of wheat has a very practical value, as it is the staple food for one third of world population and population growth requires a corresponding growth of production.

In conditions of limited land and water resources of the planet, this growth will have to ensure not to increase the acreage and improve yields.

"Based on the results of the project, such work will be engaged and the staff of the Federal research centre itsig so ran, where in recent years much attention is paid to methods of marker-oriented breeding and has already received the first results in this direction", — stated in the message.

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