In a major step towards understanding gene switching, a genomic map was produced by an international consortium led by scientists from McGill University and University of Toronto. The map is the first of its kind in plants, and will help scientists identify specific regulatory regions in the genomes of plants, such as canola, a major crop in Canada.

The team sequenced the genomes of several crucifers and analyzed them together with previously published genomes to map more than 90,000 genomic regions.

The team found the genes involved in the growth of plant cells and structures as the plant develops from a seed, and how it responds to its environment are surrounded by many gene switches. Another group of switches was identified and work is now being done to find which regions are involved in controlling important plant traits.

For more information, read the news release from the University of Toronto at http://news.utoronto.ca/creating-first-genomic-map-plants.