Barley genome breakthrough may lead to better beer

[Turborama]

Wed, Oct 17 21:00 PM EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - An international consortium of scientists has published a high resolution draft of the barley genome in a move that could not only improve yields and disease resistance but may also hold the key to better beer.

"This research will streamline efforts to improve barley production through breeding for improved varieties," said Professor Robbie Waugh, of Scotland's James Hutton Institute, who led the research. "This could be varieties better able to withstand pests and disease, deal with adverse environmental conditions, or even provide grain better suited for beer and brewing."

=snip=

The research, published in the journal Nature, could also be a boon for the whisky industry while barley is also a major component of animal feed for meat and dairy industries.

Barley is the world's fourth most important cereal crop, trailing only maize, rice and wheat, and its genome is almost twice the size of that of humans.

More: http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE89G1A320121018?irpc=986

What an excellent breakthrough. Better beer and whisky plus more secure food supplies - as per the rest of the arrticle.

It's a win, win, win discovery.

[JeffHead]

1. Better Beer?

You certainly have my full attention but GMO beer sounds kinda scary

[roody]

3. The article does not ay GMO. Europeans

do not accept GE crops.

[xchrom]

4. Sounds more like cross breeding than gene splicing. Nt

[msedano]

2. make barley gluten free and this is good news

otherwise, ho-hum. celiacs and others with a gluten allergy cannot drink barley-malt beer. distilled spirits eventuate in a gf-free beverage, but who wants to swill whiskey?

mvs

[xchrom]

5. Some of us do fine with gluten and like whiskey.

Some things aren't for every body.

Ho hum.