Category Archives: Genomics

Domestication, polyploidy and genomics of crops and weeds PAGXXV

Posted on Sunday, 15 January, 2017 by

Plant and Animal Genome Conference in San Diego #PAGXXV each January is the chance to join 3500 people working in genomics. I presented a talk on the molecular cytogenetics group’s work, starting with consideration of early stages of crop domestication, … Continue reading →

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Saffron crocus, cooking and Iran on the radio

Posted on Wednesday, 20 January, 2016 by

The spice Saffron is valued worldwide for its flavor, aroma and color. I’ve just broadcast an interview with Robin Young produced by Jill Ryan for NPR’s Here and Now program which let me tell you something about my enjoyment of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crocus, Farming, Genomics, News, Press, Research, Species, Sustainability, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chromosomal evolution in Brachiaria forage grasses with Fabiola Carvalho Santos

Posted on Friday, 12 September, 2014 by

Fabiola Santos from University of Londrina, Brazil, is working on the Chromosomal evolution and the organization of repetitive DNA sequences in diploid and polyploid Brachiaria forage grasses in the molecular cytogenetics group in Leicester. Brachiaria is most important cultivated forage grass genus … Continue reading →

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Crocus and the origin of Saffron

Posted on Sunday, 09 February, 2014 by

305. Alsayied N, Schwarzacher T, Heslop-Harrison P. 2014. Crocus: research into the origin of saffron. Botanic Garden Newsletter 5: 3. Link to scan of Crocus and the origin of saffron article. The genus Crocus has nearly 100 species, each with unique characters of colour, flowering … Continue reading →

Posted in chromosomes, Collaborators, Crocus, Genomics, Publications, Species | 3 Comments

Wild banana species: their classification and the sequencing of Musa balbisiana

Posted on Sunday, 13 October, 2013 by

Crop relatives are important – we learn about the relationships of wild germplasm in comparison to the domesticated forms, and about the genetics and genes in the wild species. Two papers in the last month advance our understanding of wild … Continue reading →

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Repetitive DNA in the edible button mushroom

Posted on Saturday, 22 June, 2013 by

I have a mental picture of the structure of a typical plant genome and typical animal genome, with their  transposons (DNA and RNA), tandemly-repeated satellite sequences, minisatellites, microsatellites and other repeats. From this paper, I have a view of repeats in the second … Continue reading →

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