Plant Genomics

In recent years the explosion of DNA sequence information dramatically created an opportunity to investigate the function of plant genes. We started the rice genomic research project on December 1st 2000 based in Kazusa of Chiba prefecture. Rice is the most important cereal being relied by 50% of people in world and is a model crop of DNA research. And fortunately Japan has long history of rice breeding, and accumulated many research materials and knowledge. Our research focus is on the functional genomics of rice and the new molecular breeding technologies. We are in the process of development of gene information-based molecular breeding tools that are unique and valuable in a shortest time possible through pioneer researches of plant genome in order to meet the challenges in such areas as food and environment that the human kind is commonly faced with, and make contributions toward the progress of agricultural technologies of Japan. In the process, we intend to obtain gene patents as intellectual property. We also have collaborative research projects with Nagoya University,  and some public institutes including Kazusa DNA Research Institute. As the first result of our collaboration with Nagoya University, we isolated the semi-dwarf gene -sd1 and contributed nature in 2002.