Find Chinese scientists at the plant discovered a "selfish" genetic element

Chinese scientists found in rice is the same "selfish" genetic element, which was previously discovered in mice and the nematode. This is the first case of detection of such elements in plants, calling into question the famous Mendeleev's law of segregation. Article describing new discoveries were published by a leading scientific journal Science on 8 June 2018. The authors are Dr. Yu saawan (Yu Xiaowen) and Professor Zhigang Zhao (Zhao Zhigang), the staff of the College of Agriculture at Nanjing agricultural University. Scientist, member of the Chinese Academy of engineering, Wang Jianmin (Jianmin Wan) made the responsible author of this scientific work.

What is "selfish" genes? The basis for Mendeleev genetics is the concept, according to which gametes exhibit the same potential to carry the two parental copies of the gene. Hereditary characteristics may closer resemble the characteristics of the father or mother. The same feature has a "selfish" genetic element in rice. Moreover, such "selfish" genes weaken the advantages of hybrids O. sativasspjaponica (DJY1).

Theoretically, the hybrids of Indica/japonica show a 15% greater productivity compared to existing modifications to indica/indica. However, sterility of hybrid, including pollen sterility, immature embryo SAC and low rate of survival of seeds is a constant companion of heterosis. According to the results of a study group of scientists led by prof Ivan, this phenomenon is called "selfish" genetic elements.

These elements are widespread among eukaryotic genomes, but their role is still under question. A group of experts Nanjing agricultural University under the guidance of Professor Ivan discovered the mechanism of hybrid sterility caused by "selfish" genetic element. In the male sterile locus hybrid O. sativasspjaponica (DJY1) and wild risk (Oryzameridionalis) there are two closely related gene ORF2 and ORF3. ORF2 aborts pollen sporotrichosis way, and ORF3 protects it with a gametophytic mechanism. Moreover, widely compatible varieties developed using a technology called CRISPR, that contribute to the use of powerful heterosis in rice.