Scientists from Novosibirsk State University, together with the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, have discovered the gene responsible for the formation of anthocyanins, which give the grains a blue color. These compounds not only decorate the grain, but also have antioxidant properties that are beneficial to human health. Their discovery could lead to the creation of new varieties of wheat and barley rich in these beneficial substances, the university’s press service reported.
The researchers were interested in whether common cereal crops, such as white barley, could gain blue color and beneficial properties if their DNA was modified. They confirmed that a mutation in a particular gene did, in fact, trigger anthocyanin synthesis. This discovery suggested that gene editing could make grains healthier by increasing their nutritional value.
During the experiments, scientists discovered that changing a nucleotide in the DNA of barley to white grains affects their color. Specially created barley samples with the modified gene showed that the grain color changed to blue. One of the authors of the study, Tatyana Zykova, noted that this discovery opens up new opportunities to create cereal crops enriched with anthocyanins, which can reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
