Rice study finds great genetic diversity

Research led by Chinese scientists has revealed the rich genetic diversity of rice and paved the way for more precise breeding of one of the world's most important crops.

More than 12,000 previously unknown genes have been identified.

The findings, which were published on Thursday in the science journal Nature, will promote global research on the rice genome - including breeding at the molecular level - and accelerate the creation of new rice varieties of superior quality, high yield and improved resistance to multiple biological and other stresses, according to the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, which led the research.