Science Market Update

Geneticists at the University of Arizona recently worked with 300 research scientists in 14 countries to crack the genetic code of tomatoes. The results of the study are expected to be used to lessen costs of tomato production and improve efforts at making tomatoes resistant to drought and pests. Founded in 2003 in Washington, the Tomato Genome Consortium includes scientists from Argentina, Belgium, China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain and the United States. The results of the study were published as a cover story in the May 31 issue of the journal Nature.