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The Forest Molecular Genetics (FMG) Programme is an academic research programme in the Department of Genetics at the University of Pretoria. This Programme is part of the research portfolio of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) and is hosted in the Forest Molecular Genetics Laboratory in the Department of Genetics. The FMG-programme is headed by Prof Zander Myburg.
As part of our focus on the molecular genetics of xylem development in fast-growing eucalyptus and tropical pine tree species (e.g. P. patula), we are using high-throughput molecular technologies for (A) gene discovery and functional genetics research (e.g. cDNA-AFLP, microarray analysis and plant transformation), (B) allele discovery research (allele cloning, sequencing and SNP-detection), and (C) the development of molecular breeding tools (e.g. AFLP-, SSR- and SNP-marker analysis) for the genetic improvement of targeted forest tree species. We are using the herbaceous model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, to perform functional genetic analysis of candidate wood formation genes discovered in trees.
Most of the research activities in the FMG-programme are funded as part of the Wood and Fibre Molecular Genetics Programme, which is a joint research venture of the University of Pretoria, Sappi Forests and Mondi Business Paper South Africa. Additional financial support is provided by the Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa.
For more information, contact Zander Myburg,
Tel: +27 12 420 4945,
Fax: +27 12 420 3947
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