Indian scientists sequence entire genome of neem tree

For The first time ever, researchers in India have sequenced the entire genome of neem tree (Azadirachta Indica) in its entirety, reported local media Friday. A team of 10 researchers at Ganit Labs -- an integrated genomics lab in Bangalore, southern India, set up earlier this year under a public-private partnership between Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology and Strand Life Sciences, a bioinformatics company -- has successfully sequenced the genome of the plant known for its medicinal properties. "This is the first time the genome of a higher organism has been sequenced in India," the head of Ganit Labs Binay Panda told a press conference Thursday. Researchers in the U.S. and elsewhere have sequenced genomes of several complex organisms but neem plant is not one of them. "We have traditionally known the medicinal properties of neem," Panda said. "Understanding its genetic complexity will help in developing agriculturally important compounds and pharmaceuticals. For instance, pesticidal compound Azadirachtin is found in neem seeds in wildly varying concentrations. With genetic understanding and engineering, Azadirachtin content in neem could potentially be increased and normalized." The not-for-profit lab is setting up an online open access data bank where it will publish information on the genome architecture, coding parts and molecular evolution of neem plant. The findings from the project, a results of extensive interdisciplinary collaboration, will be sent to a peer-reviewed journal for review and publication.