Chinese scientists announced yesterday that after 5 months' hard working of four hundred of researches, the first draft genome map of silkworm was finished. Following the finish of 1% of human genome sequencing and the draft genome map and complete map of rice genome, this is the third achievement Chinese scientist made.

At present, taking sci-tech as the core and gene study as platform, working from silkworm to construct the "21 Century Silk Road" has become the common wish of scientists working in silk industry worldwide and intense competition followed. The main contents of "21 Century Silk Road" are making breakthrough on silkworm raising technology, annihilating lepidopteral pests, developing biology medicine to serve human disease prevention and control and public health. The first announcement of the finish of genome map of silkworm made by Chinese scientists indicated China's leading position in silkworm genome study.

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The value of silkworm genome research
→Research on physiology, pathology, development, behavior and inherit lethal gene of silkworm will help to start study from pest itself to effect a radical cure and will leading the elimination of pests

→Silkworm has great similarity with human on basic life system, substance metabolism, energy metabolism and the way of inheritance. The study on genetic mode of silkworm will contribute great deal to some important issues, such as cloning of human disease control genes, disease mechanism research, developing new drugs and will proved important reference to solve human disease problem and life-span of human.

→Silkworm is an ideal biology reactor since its silk gland in the body is a high efficient protein factory. By conducting genome study, it is possible to let silkworm to produce protein with high purity to sever as medicine for human.