Tuning in to Technology Benefits of Biotech, Computational Tech, and Nanotech
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U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service April 2012 Tuning In to Technology Benefits of Biotech, Computational Tech, and Nanotech Agricultural Research Service6ROYLQJ3UREOHPVIRUWKH*URZLQJ:RUOG B$SULOLQGG 30 ³ZH QHHG WR SXW D SUHPLXP RQ 2QH '1$ YLUXV JHQRPH VHTXHQFH LQ ³'LJLWDO'HWHFWLYHV'HFLSKHU,QJUHGLHQWV´ FUHDWLQJLQQRYDWLYHVROXWLRQVWRDGGUHVV SDUWLFXODUKDVWKHPH[FLWHG,WLVDSUHYL SDJH RXUFXUUHQWDQGIXWXUHSUREOHPV´²86 RXVO\XQGLVFRYHUHGEDFWHULRSKDJHQDPHG )LQDOO\LQIRRGVDIHW\$56VFLHQWLVWV 'HSDUWPHQWRI$JULFXOWXUH6HFUHWDU\7RP ³SKL&$´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²PHWDJHQRPLFVJHQRPLF FDQWDUJHWDQGGHVWUR\SDWKRJHQLFEDFWHULD VHOHFWLRQPHWDERORPLFVDQGPRUH In plant breeding efforts, ARS scientist LQ QDWXUH 7ZR VXFK EDFWHULD DUH PDMRU Jean-Luc Jannink at the Robert W. Holley SDWKRJHQVRIGDLU\FDWWOH²6WDSK\ORFRFFXV (DFK SURMHFW UHSUHVHQWV D IXVLRQ RI Center for Agriculture and Health, in VSS DQG 6WUHSWRFRFFXV VSS LQFOXGLQJ OHDGLQJHGJH VFLHQFH DQG WHFKQRORJLFDO Ithaca, New York, is leading the charge PHWKLFLOOLQUHVLVWDQW 6WDSK\ORFRFFXV LQQRYDWLRQWKDWLVKHOSLQJWRVKDSH$56¶V for enhancing future crop designs with the DXUHXV RU 056$ 7KLV UHVHDUFK LV UHVSRQVHWRWKHJURZLQJIRRG¿EHUDQG use of “genomic selection”—thestatistical H[SHFWHGWREHUHSRUWHGLQDQXSFRPLQJ IXHOQHHGVRID86DQGZRUOGSRSXODWLRQ analysis of genomewide marker data to LVVXHRI$JULFXOWXUDO5HVHDUFK IRUHFDVWHG WR H[FHHG PLOOLRQ DQG predict the breeding value for selected ELOOLRQLQGLYLGXDOVUHVSHFWLYHO\E\ /LNHWKHQHZJHQHUDWLRQRIK\EULGYH progeny, including small- and large- KLFOHVK\EULGDQWLPLFURELDOVFRPELQHWKH 7DNHIRUH[DPSOHWKH¿HOGRIPHWDJH effect trait genes (see “A New Approach EHVWIHDWXUHVRIWKHLUSDUHQWFRPSRXQGV² QRPLFV DQ H[FLWLQJ QHZ GLVFLSOLQH WKDW to Molecular Plant Breeding,” page 13). 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The Secretary of Agriculture has determined that this periodical is necessary in the transaction of public business required by law. Tom Vilsack, Secretary U.S. Department of Agriculture Catherine E. Woteki, Under Secretary Research, Education, and Economics Edward B. Knipling, Administrator Agricultural Research Service Sandy Miller Hays, Director Information Staff Editor: Robert Sowers (301) 504-1651 Associate Editor: Sue Kendall (301) 504-1623 Art Director: BA Allen (301) 504-1669 Photo Editor: Tara Weaver-Missick (301) 504-1663 Scanning electron microscope image of silver nanoparticles on Staff Photographers: the surface of cotton. The silver helps cotton fabric resist microbial Peggy Greb (301) 504-1620 growth. Magnification about 12,000x. Story begins on page 14. Stephen Ausmus (301) 504-1607 Most information in this magazine is public property and may be reprinted without permission (except where copyright is noted). Non -copyrighted articles and high- 4 A Bit of Gold and Nanotechnology Bring Viruses to Light resolution digital photos are available at ars.usda.gov/ar. Paid subscriptions are available from the U.S. 6 Digital Detectives Decipher Ingredients Government Printing Office (Superintendent of Documents). See back cover for ordering infor mation. 8 SERS: High-Tech Tactic May Newly Expose Stealthy Complimentary 1-year subscriptions are available directly from ARS to public libraries, schools, USDA employees, Salmonella and the news media. Call (301) 504-1638 or e-mail [email protected]. 10 What’s in Your Blood? The Ongoing Hunt for This magazine may report research involving pesticides. Metabolites It does not contain recommendations for their use, nor does it imply that uses discussed herein have been 12 Protein Biomarkers Identify Disease-Carrying Aphids registered. All uses of pesticides must be registered by appropriate state and/or federal agencies before they can be recommended. 13 A New Approach to Molecular Plant Breeding Reference to any commercial product or service is made with the understanding that no discri mination is intended 14 Cotton Gets Nanotech and Biotech Treatment in and no endorsement by USDA is implied. New Orleans The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, 16 Barcoding Insects To Control Them age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, 18 Metagenomics Offers Insight Into Poultry Diseases reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not 20 Longstanding Erosion Calculator Enters 21st Century allprohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 23 Locations Featured in This Magazine Issue communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Cover: At ARS’s Food Composition and Methods Development Laboratory, in Beltsville, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 Maryland, postdoctoral associate Jianghao Sun prepares for HPLC/MS analysis of (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal extracts from teas and supplements made from teas. The purpose is to evaluate the opportunity provider and employer. differences in the ingredients in the teas and supplements. Story begins on page 6. Photo by Peggy Greb. (D2473-2) Agricultural Research O April 2012 3 B$SULOLQGG 30 NOAH PORITZ (K4705-12) Mosquitoes like this female $HGHV 2FKOHURWDWXV sp., sucking blood to get nourishment for her eggs, can transmit the viruses that cause West A Bit of Gold Nile fever and Rift Valley fever. ease Research Unit. “The assay is easier and quicker in detecting West Nile virus.” and In an initial study, researchersused gold nanoparticles and a Raman label of methylene blue dye to detect West Nile Nanotechnology virus and develop a nucleic acid assay. “We were having difficulty in getting a really clean signal,” Wilson says. “We could demonstrate signals, but they weren’t of the intensity that we would like.” Even- tually, however, the scientists were able to clean up the signals. Confirming a Detection Tool Gold nanoparticles have the ability to enhance light scatter, which can be taken Bring Viruses to Light advantage of in detecting virus-infected cells. This is the principle behind SERS that the researchers have used to develop an immunoassay and test its ability in detecting antibodies to West Nile virus. ll that glitters is not gold, but can be detected with a spectroscope. When Gold nanoparticles