Scientists from around the world may soon share an understanding of the genetics of corn. With a grant from the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, ISU agronomy professor Michael Lee is helping corn researchers and breeders everywhere to create a newer, more comprehensive corn genetic map.
Genetic maps help scientists navigate through the collection of genes found in corn.
While Lee isn't the first to create a corn gene map, he says the flood of new genetic data from recent research has overwhelmed current maps. To develop superior corn hybrids and meet farmers' needs, corn breeders must know how to locate genes that control important traits. A new genetic map could enable scientists to more easily isolate, replicate and transfer genes of interest, including resistance to herbicides or pests. Such a map would provide the groundwork to develop corn with new properties and uses. Lee obtained the corn plants for this cooperative project from ISU agronomy professor Arnel Hallauer .