French scientists have sequenced the genome of the banana , specifically of the variety known as the Malay banana ( Musa acuminata ) . In total they have identified 36,500 genes, that is, 14,000 more than humans. The milestone is an important step given that it is a staple food, also considered the main fruit crop in the world both in terms of production and trade.
The banana began to be domesticated 7,000 years ago somewhere in Asia. Currently more than half of the bananas that are marketed do not have seeds and do not reproduce sexually, which makes them more vulnerable to fungi and different parasites. Hence, researchers consider it crucial to develop new and more resistant varieties , something to which the new genome, the result of ten years of research, will contribute. The sequencing of the banana genome will also make it possible to identify the genes responsible for key characteristics such as fruit quality and resistance to pesticides, the researchers announced today in the journal Nature .
