RZ-100-wt4-E-flipbook-240702 - Flipbook - Page 132
The
Genetic
Revolution
A milestone in the scientific world takes place
It was also a very costly project (around 450
in 2003: the completion of the Human Genome
million US dollar), taking as much as thirteen
Project. The aim of the project, launched in
years to complete and involving hundreds of
1990, is to fully map human DNA using sequence
researchers.
analysis (a method of determining the order of
Since then, DNA sequencing has boomed, with
base pairs (the building blocks of DNA) in an
many applications in biology, including in
organism’s DNA), something that at the start of
vegetable breeding. With current technologies
the project still seemed like a pipe dream.
(such as Next Generation Sequencing), the entire
At the time, the Human Genome Project was the
Human Genome Project could be carried out
largest biological collaborative project
today in less than two weeks and for roughly
ever worldwide.
1,000 euros.
The introduction of pre-breeding groups for each
pathology and based on the crop team’s prioriti-
breeding department constitutes an important
sation, the pre-breeders look for new traits such
restructuring and expansion of R&D.
as resistances or a particular flavour. In doing this,
These groups conduct crop-oriented research
the pre-breeding groups form an essential bridge
into new traits and new breeding methods prior
between breeding, commerce and research.
to breeding. Aided by specialists from the fields
This excellent connection between research and
of biotechnology, seed technology and phyto-
breeding is one of Rijk Zwaan’s strengths.
Genomic Breeding
In 2010, the appointment of the first two ‘genomic
Traditionally, the focus in breeding has been
breeders’ introduces a new way of breeding,
mainly on line selection, where ultimately
which is especially important for hybrid crops.
when the lines are pure a number of hybrid
Here, genetic material for each breeding project is
combinations are made per line in the hope of
divided into groups (called ‘pools’) that have been
producing a good hybrid. In genomic breeding,
shown to combine well with each other.
the focus shifts from line selection to variety
One pool can then supply the maternal lines (in
testing. Using the results of the hybrids in variety
which, for example, extra selection can then be
trials, the value of the lines is recalculated, and
made on the basis of seed production capacity),
it is examined how even better combinations of
while the other supplies the sires.
lines can be found.
In genomic breeding, based on marker data and
By 2024, Rijk Zwaan has seven genomic breeders
observations collected by the breeder in the
that the breeders use to practice this modern
field or greenhouse, statistical models are used
breeding method.
to calculate which combinations of all possible
parental lines will yield the best varieties.
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Rijk Zwaan | Moving forward together
