Researchers at the Weill Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) have published the first genetic map of the date palm, according to a report.
The genetic map shows the order in which the date palm’s chromosomes are placed and also which chromosome is responsible for reproduction.
“In theory, the information could one day allow growers to manipulate the development of seeds, creating more female fruit-bearing plants than male plants that do not produce dates, an important food source for much of the Middle East,” the report said.
Scientists from Saudi Arabia and China completed mapping the genome of the date-palm tree late last year.
Scientists from Riyadh’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and China’s Shenzhen-based BGI had been working on the project since 2008.
The map has been produced by the genomics group under the direction of Joel Malek, assistant professor of Genetic Medicine at WCMC-Q, in collaboration with Karsten Suhre, professor of physiology and biophysics at WCMC-Q, and with the help of colleagues at the Ministry of Environment’s Biotechnology Center and the Department of Agricultural Affairs.
The program, entitled “Establishing World Leadership in Date Palm Research in Qatar,” was funded by the National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) at the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), which provided $4.5 million to the research.
Malek and his team produced a draft version of the date palm genome three years ago.
It was this that paved the way for the more accurate map. To create the map, Malek and Suhre worked with the Ministry of the Environment’s Biotechnology Center and their Department of Agricultural Affairs.
The ministry provided the researchers with 150 seeds from a single female tree, which were then propagated by Ameena Al-Malki at the Biotechnology Center.
Leaves and DNA were taken from the seedlings once they were large enough for testing. A new process called genotyping-by-sequencing was then applied which sequenced portions of the genomes of all 150 seedlings. It allowed the researchers to look at the parent tree and ascertain how the DNA was passed to the offspring.
Khaled Machaca, associate dean of research at WCMC-Q, said the research demonstrates the value of funding novel, regionally relevant, collaborative research between different organizations.
“The NPRP exceptional proposal (NPRP-EP) funding the date palm research was the first NPRP-EP awarded by QNRF,” he said.
“It funds regionally relevant research that has a high likelihood of contributing toward Qatar’s knowledge-based economy vision. This funding is beginning to bear fruits by generating the first chromosome map for date palm through collaborative efforts of multiple institutions in Qatar.”
World’s first date palm genetic map published
World’s first date palm genetic map published
Apple to update EU browser options, make more apps deletable
- iPhone maker came under pressure from regulators to make changes after the EU’s sweeping Digital Markets Act took effect on March 7
- Apple users will be able to select a default browser directly from the choice screen after going through a mandatory list of options
STOCKHOLM: Apple will change how users choose browser options in the European Union, add a dedicated section for changing default apps, and make more apps deletable, the company said on Thursday.
The iPhone maker came under pressure from regulators to make changes after the EU’s sweeping Digital Markets Act took effect on March 7, forcing big tech companies to offer mobile users the ability to select from a list of available web browsers on a “choice screen.”
The new rules require mobile software makers to show the choice screen where users can select a browser, search engine and virtual assistant as they set up their phones, which earlier came with preferred options from Apple and Google.
In an update later this year, Apple users will be able to select a default browser directly from the choice screen after going through a mandatory list of options.
A randomly ordered list of 12 browsers per EU country will be shown to the user with short descriptions, and the chosen one will be automatically downloaded, Apple said. The choice screen will also be available on iPads through an update later this year.
Apple released a previous update in response to the new rules in March, but browser companies criticized the design of its choice screen, and the Commission opened an investigation on March 25 saying it suspected that the measures fell short of effective compliance.
The company said it has been in dialogue with the European Commission and believes the new changes will address regulators’ concerns.
It also plans to introduce a dedicated area for default apps where a user will be able to set defaults for messaging, phone calls, spam filters, password managers and keyboards.
Users will also be able to delete certain Apple-made apps such as App Store, Messages, Camera, Photos and Safari. Only Settings and Phone apps would not be deletable.
