Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IE
Context: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal have conducted the first-ever genome sequencing of the jamun tree (Syzygium cumini).
- The study aimed to gain insights into the genomic and evolutionary basis of jamun’s medicinal properties.
- The research team used Oxford Nanopore and 10x Genomics sequencing technologies to sequence the S. cumini genome.
- The analysis revealed a higher number of coding genes in the jamun genome, suggesting a neopolyploidy event.
The study identified key genes involved in the adaptive evolution of jamun, contributing to its anti-diabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
A neopolyploidy event refers to the occurrence of polyploidy, a condition in which an organism has multiple sets of chromosomes, leading to an increase in the number of chromosomes in its cells.
Polyploidy can arise through different mechanisms, including errors during cell division or hybridization between different species
