Sri Lankan researchers in major breakthrough in genetic technology in rice research

A Sri Lankan university research team has achieved a major breakthrough in genetic technology in the field of rice research. The Human Genetics Unit (HGU), Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo together with John Keells Research (JKR), a unit established by John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) to carry out futuristic scientific research, on Monday announced the successful sequencing of the entire genome of ‘goda wee’ - an indigenous rice variety. “This is the first time that such a feat in the field of science was achieved within the country in Sri Lanka,” the HGU said in a statement to the media. Sequencing of goda wee was done in the only genome sequencing facility in Sri Lanka located at the HGU. This facility was established in 2014 with research grants from the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka and other funding agencies. The work was carried out by Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake MBBS, PhD, FNASSL (Director HGU and Principal Investigator), Dr. Sanjeewa Sinhabahu PhD (Lead Scientist), Dilini Gunawardana MSc (Scientist) and Chathura Wijesinghe BSc (Bioinformatician) from the Synthetic Biology Group at the HGU which was established in 2014 in collaboration with JKR as a University-Industry partnership. - ENDS -