Southwestern University Research Breakthrough &Nbsp, Silk Thickness And Color Will Be Controllable.

August 12th, Chongqing science and Technology Commission recently announced that Southwestern University

Silkworm is domesticated from China's Bombyx mori 5000 years ago. What changes and connections between genetic variation and specific mutagenicity on its genome has become a subject that academic circles must overcome.

The silkworm genome research team of Southwestern University has completed the world's first silkworm genome frame map, silkworm gene fine map and high precision genetic variation map since 2003, which laid the leading position in the genome research of Bombyx mori.

The birth of the DNA methylation map of Bombyx mori genome is another important genome research achievement of Chinese scientists.

It is reported that this is the world's first insect methylation map.

It is understood that as an important chemical element of epigenetics, DNA methylation plays an important role in genome defense and gene regulation. It can affect the biological characteristics such as morphology and color during the growth of plants and animals.

However, compared with animals and plants, the methylation level of insects is very low, and whether it affects the genetic and biological characteristics of insects, the academic community has been controversial.

Southwestern University silkworm genome research team takes advantage of new generation sequencing

In this regard, the Chongqing Municipal Science and Technology Commission official said, as the world's first insect methylation map, the completion of the silkworm methylation spectrum not only provides an important reference material for understanding epigenetic regulation of insects, but also lays a solid foundation for further exploring genetic research in the process of artificial domestication of silkworm.