Joint international research with 19 universities and research institutes including Japan's National Basic Biology Research Center and Tokyo University
Published in the world-acclaimed academic journal 'Nature Communications'
Expected to interpret genetic functions, generate flower anthocyanin, and be used for food crop research
[March 15, 2017]
<Department of Horticulture and Life Science Professor Park Gyeong-il who was the first to complete the genome map of morning glory>
YU Department of Horticulture and Life Science Professor Park Gyeong-il (48) became the first to complete the genome map of the morning glory flower, attracting attention from academic circles.
The morning glory has over 1,500 mutant species so it is easy to conduct plant genetics research, and it is being used as a model for flowering plant properties research. However, it was only until recently that the morning glory's genome map was complete. Professor Park, through joint international research, completed the draft of 15 genome maps of the morning glory for the first time in the world.
Research on plant chromosomes is just as complex as chromosome research of animals and humans. A total of 19 universities and research institutes both in Korea and abroad including YU, Japan's National Basic Biology Research Center, Tokyo University, and Keio University participated in drafting the morning glory genome map.
Professor Park said, "The morning glory is a horticultural plant and are normally used as ornamental plants. It has various mutations so it has high value for research." He added, "By completing the first draft of the genome map, we created a foundation to be utilized as basic data for genetic function analysis for investigating the roles of morning glory genetics."
The research results were recently published in the world-acclaimed academic journal <Nature Communications> (impact factor (IF) 11.329). Nature Communications is published by Nature Publishing Group, which also publishes the global scientific magazine Nature, and it has global prominence in all fields of natural science such as physics, chemistry, biology and earth science. Over 1,000 papers from around the world are submitted every month, and only those that pass rigorous reviews are published.
Professor Park stated, "With this study, about 91% of the genome map for the morning glory has been completed. We are planning to use the map for various follow-up research such as interpreting the genetic functions, division of species, and manifestation of flower anthocyanin. It will also be possible to utilize in conducting research for food crops such as sweet potatoes as well."
Professor Park earned his PhD in 2000 at YU and worked at Japan's Basic Biology Research Center for eight years as a researcher, and returned to Korea and served as a professor at the YU Department of Horticulture and Life Science.
