Genome Digest

What researchers are learning as they sequence, map, and decode species’ genomes

Written byDiana Kwon

| 5 min read

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Species: Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa)
Genome size: 1.39 billion base pairs

Quinoa, a nutrient-dense crop from South America, is quickly becoming a staple in Western diets. The grain can thrive in a variety of harsh environmental conditions, such as at high altitudes and poor-quality soil. However, it’s not a simple food to produce because the plant’s seeds, which contain a bitter-tasting molecule called saponin, must be removed before human consumption.

By sequencing and analyzing the quinoa genome, researchers uncovered a gene that regulates saponin production. The group reported its findings last month (February 8) in Nature. Their discoveries could help researchers create strains of quinoa without the bitter-tasting chemical, allowing it to be more widely produced. “We discovered mutations which ensure that certain quinoa varieties cannot ...

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Meet the Author

Diana Kwon
Diana is a freelance science journalist who covers the life sciences, health, and academic life. She’s a regular contributor to The Scientist and her work has appeared in several other publications, including Scientific American, Knowable, and Quanta. Diana was a former intern at The Scientist and she holds a master’s degree in neuroscience from McGill University. She’s currently based in Berlin, Germany.
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