Scientists in Israel Make Gene Bank for Wild Crops
2022-11-15
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1Could the key to securing the world's food supply for the future be hidden in the DNA of wild crops?
2Scientists in Israel are creating a gene bank from the seeds of local wild crops.
3Some of these crops have survived for thousands of years since the birth of agriculture.
4The seeds may help farmers deal with a severe climate in the coming years.
5Alon Singer, a plant expert, recently collected seeds from several plants discovered near a new building project.
6The seeds, including different kinds of water mint, will be frozen and stored at a gene bank of the Volcani Institute.
7It is the national agricultural research and development center in Israel.
8Singer and several other people are now exploring the country in search of wheat, barley and other wild crops.
9The goal is to save and study their genetic makeup before the crops are lost to growing deserts and more buildings.
10Singer said, "The plants here are very unique.
11They are the ancestors of many of the cultivated plants used today."
12Information from the wild crops could be used to genetically modify farmed crops so they can better deal with disease or lack of water.
13Tens of thousands of different kinds of seeds are stored in Israel's gene bank.
14It may be smaller than some collections elsewhere in the world but the gene pool here is one of a kind.
15The crops come from an area known as the birthplace of crop cultivation.
16"This is where agriculture started about 10,000 years ago," said Einav Mayzlish-Gati, director of the gene bank.
17"Species that were domesticated here are still in the wild adapting along the years to the changes in the environment."
18The research has already brought good results.
19For example, scientists have engineered different kinds of wheat with a very short life.
20It may not be able to compete today, but it could be helpful in a hotter climate with reduced growing seasons.
21The World Bank warns that climate change will likely harm worldwide agriculture.
22Harmful effects, it says, are already being felt with hotter temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events, and invasive crops and pests.
23I'm John Russell.
1Could the key to securing the world's food supply for the future be hidden in the DNA of wild crops? 2Scientists in Israel are creating a gene bank from the seeds of local wild crops. Some of these crops have survived for thousands of years since the birth of agriculture. The seeds may help farmers deal with a severe climate in the coming years. 3Alon Singer, a plant expert, recently collected seeds from several plants discovered near a new building project. 4The seeds, including different kinds of water mint, will be frozen and stored at a gene bank of the Volcani Institute. It is the national agricultural research and development center in Israel. 5Singer and several other people are now exploring the country in search of wheat, barley and other wild crops. The goal is to save and study their genetic makeup before the crops are lost to growing deserts and more buildings. 6Singer said, "The plants here are very unique. They are the ancestors of many of the cultivated plants used today." 7Information from the wild crops could be used to genetically modify farmed crops so they can better deal with disease or lack of water. 8Tens of thousands of different kinds of seeds are stored in Israel's gene bank. It may be smaller than some collections elsewhere in the world but the gene pool here is one of a kind. The crops come from an area known as the birthplace of crop cultivation. 9"This is where agriculture started about 10,000 years ago," said Einav Mayzlish-Gati, director of the gene bank. "Species that were domesticated here are still in the wild adapting along the years to the changes in the environment." 10The research has already brought good results. For example, scientists have engineered different kinds of wheat with a very short life. It may not be able to compete today, but it could be helpful in a hotter climate with reduced growing seasons. 11The World Bank warns that climate change will likely harm worldwide agriculture. Harmful effects, it says, are already being felt with hotter temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events, and invasive crops and pests. 12I'm John Russell. 13Rinat Harash and Ari Rabinovitch reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 14___________________________________________________________________ 15Words in This Story 16DNA -- n. a substance that carries genetic information in the cells of plants and animals 17unique - adj. used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else 18cultivate - v. to grow or raise (something) under conditions that you can control 19species - n. biology: a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants: 20adapt - v. to change your behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation 21invasive -- adj. tending to spread