New research leader to improve wheat genomics Ksenia Krasileva joins The Genome Analysis Centre’s (TGAC) Science Faculty to lead the Institute’s new Triticeae Genomics Group, in joint appointment with The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL). s Triticeae Genomics Group Leader, Dr Krasileva will be responsible for the generation, integration, investigation and release of improved genomic data for wheat and other Triticeae species. The third most-produced cereal worldwide, bread wheat has one of the most complex genomes. With over a 100,000 genes, compared to the human genome containing about 20,000, the sheer size of the wheat genome, as well as the relationship between the genes and tissues determine its vast complexity. TGAC, TSL and other research Institutes on the Norwich Research Park are working in collaboration with the UK and
International cereals genomics community, to advance sustainable agriculture and improve global food security. “I believe that we can make high impact by deciphering information encoded in the wheat genome, said Dr Ksenia Krasileva, Triticeae Genomics Group Leader at TGAC. “Novel technologies provide the means to understand the highly complex and repetitive nature of wheat DNA. By combining genomics with molecular biology, we can expand our knowledge of plant-pathogen interactions and enable new solutions to increase of yield.” Engaging with international partners and collaborators, Dr Krasileva and her team will Dr Ksenia Krasileva
aim to deploy the software for whole-genome assembly and analyses, incorporating a variety of datasets and generation of novel data. The genome sequence data will be prepared for public release in collaboration with other research groups at TGAC and Europeans Bioinformatics Institute (EBI).
Anger at mobile coverage deal Rural businesses have slammed proposals to deliver mobile phone coverage to 90 percent of the country by 2017. he commitment has been agreed by the four major mobile phone providers with Culture Secretary Sajid Javid but will still leave swathes of the British countryside without mobile phone connection. The CLA, which represents landowners, farmers and other rural businesses, is campaigning for affordable universal mobile coverage across rural communities. CLA President Henry Robinson said: “This announcement contains big numbers and strong words but in reality it perpetuates the status quo and will leave thousands of homes and businesses with the prospect of poor or no mobile phone coverage for years to come. “It is deeply disappointing that the Government has not pushed the providers to come up with more radical solutions. We are keen to know whether this agreement ends the prospect of a national roaming network that we know is hated by the mobile phone providers, but in our view has the potential to provide choice and access in rural communities.” “We will continue to fight for a mobile phone network that provides accessible and affordable mobile coverage across the whole of the UK.”