A research achievement for the Emirates University

Researchers at the Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biological Texts at the United Arab Emirates University, the Genome Science Center and the biological system at New York University, Abu Dhabi, have identified genes of great agricultural importance such as fruit color and sugar content. The research team has developed an improved group of genome for dates palm using a more comprehensive reading technique for genetic symbols, which will help this genetic improvement to proceed with more research. .

The Supreme President of the Emirates University, Saeed Ahmed Ghobash, stressed that this scientific achievement comes within the framework of the university’s endeavor to enhance its leadership role as a research academic authority that supports the strategic plans of the state in the research fields. The promotion of cooperation between researchers in universities and local and international research centers, and providing support to researchers and working to develop its programs and strategic plans in harmony and is compatible with the UAE Vision 2071. The presidency, which is attached to the Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biological Texts at the Emirates University, which had a great impact on this important research scientific achievement.

He stated, “The Emirates University is keen to be a leading academic and research institution at the local and global levels that keep pace with developments in educational and research systems, future needs and the requirements of artificial intelligence, and is also keen to prepare a research generation capable of contributing to the path of sustainable development in the country.

For his part, the main researcher in this research and the director of the Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biological Texts at the university, Dr. Khaled Amiri, stated, “We at the Khalifa Center are doing a wide study on the genome of desert plants and we use scientific knowledge resulting from these research to develop important agricultural crops. Amiri pointed out that genetic studies It is an important step in providing solutions to the challenges of food security in the future, and we will need to continue studying the genome of food crops such as date palm to help us in our efforts to provide food security in the world. Other types of plants grow in difficult ecosystems such as the desert environment. “

Dr. Khaled praised the great support provided by Sultan Dahi Al -Humairi’s family – Undersecretary of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs for the Support Services Sector – in the completion of this important research in particular and its distinguished efforts in supporting scientific research, activities and programs of the Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biological Texts at the university.

Khaled Amiri noted that this fruitful generation of palm trees is the product of research efforts supervised by the Khalifa Center for Biological Technology, Genetic Engineering, the Genome Science Center and the biological system at New York University, Abu Dhabi, with the participation of researchers from the United States, Switzerland, France, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Mexico.

For his part, a professor of genetics at the center and the first researcher in this research, Dr. Khaled Hazouri, indicated that research has identified genes and mutations that lead to a change of color and levels of sugars in the palm fruits – including the special genes of the enzyme “Infartez” that analyzes bilateral sugar to Glucose and fructose. This research also defined the genetic map of genes responsible for the color of fruit and sugar using comprehensive genomic studies (GWAS). Where comprehensive genomic studies (GWAS) have been used to draw genetic maps responsible for important diseases in humans, and this is the first time that they have been applied to palm dates.

The researchers reported that they produced an improved genetic map and more comprehensive genomic readings for the date palm of the date palm, which enabled the research team to perform the genetic maps fee accurately and in turn led to the success of the research team in drawing a map of genes for each of the fruit color and the level of sugar.

The research team noted the importance of this research published in the “Nature Comm” magazine, where scientists enables scientists to explore the genetic characteristics of this important nutritional crop, which helps specialists in hybridizing plants to find new genes to develop new and improved types of date palm. And the full genetic map (genome) of the organisms provides us with complete genetic symbols and thus knowing all genes and the team indicated that the latest technologies were used in the genome science, as the researchers analyzed approximately 772 million genetic characters that represent the genetic code of date palm.

Using this sequence, scientists also managed to determine important genes responsible for important agricultural characteristics such as fruit color and sugar content in palm trees.

It is noteworthy that there is still a few genetic knowledge of the palm tree for use in development research, although it is one of the oldest tree crops in the world and is considered the main fruit crop in North Africa and the Middle East.