Genomics Unit

Mission

Objective

Strategic Research Areas

1. Develop molecular markers and identify genes associated with traits of economic interest.
2. Utilize relevant information from the reference oil palm genome build to improve oil palm productivity.
3. Utilize high throughput genomic platforms for diagnostic purposes.
4. Oil palm molecular cytogenetics and cytometric applications.

Molecular Mapping Group 

Objective 

1. Identify and validate the association of markers linked to agronomic traits and isolate the corresponding gene(s) influencing the traits. 
2. Develop diagnostic tools for application in oil palm breeding and tissue culture.

Cytogenetics Group

Objective

1. Establish cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetics tools for a holistic view of the oil palm genome. 
2. Integrate and apply molecular cytogenetic tools available for the improvement and efficiency of oil palm breeding and tissue culture. 

Applied Genetics & Transcriptomics Group

Objective

1. Develop prediction model for complex traits of economics interest. 
2. Utilize relevant information from the reference oil palm genome build to improve oil palm productivity.
3. Determine the expression patterns for genes associated with traits of economic interest. 

Genome Analysis Laboratory for Oil Palm (GALOP) 

This facility is set up as a resource centre to serve both the industry and MPOB.

The following facilities are based in GALOP:

1. DNA Banking 
   • to deposit reference materials as cultures, DNA or tissues for future references.
2. DNA Fingerprinting
   • use of DNA probes as quality control tools in oil palm tissue culture and breeding. 

Contact Person: Dr. Rajinder Singh (rajinder@mpob.gov.my)

Sitogen Lab

Services being offered are: 

1. Chromosome Painting in Oil Palm Hybrids.
   
   • MPOB TS No. 49 (June 1998)
   • Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) method.
2. Flow Cytometry Applications.
   
   • MPOB TS No. 18 (June 2007)
   • DNA content estimation and ploidy analysis.
3. Plant Mitosis and Meiosis – Cytogenetical Analysis.
   
   • MPOB TS No. 49 (June 2008)
   • Establish karyotypes and perform cytogenetical analysis of mitotic and meiotic cells.
4. Plant Molecular Cytogenetics Analysis.
   
   • MPOB TS No. 58 (June 2009)
   • Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method.
5. Image Cytometry (ICM): Genetic Analysis of Oil Palm calli and Regenerants.
   
   • MPOB TS No. 111 (June 2012)
   • DNA content estimation of calli.
6. Oil Palm Haploid Technology: Screening for Naturally Occurring Haploids.
   
   • MPOB TS No. 125 (June 2013)
   • Maria Madon, Wan Ibrahim Wan Hassan, Zulkifli Yaakob & Norziha Abdullah.
7. Makmal Sitogenetik MPOB.
   
   • MPOB TS No. 133 (June 2014)
   • Maria Madon, Noorhariza Mohd Zaki, Nordiana Hanim Mohd Nor, Mohd Razik Midin, Zainab Anip and Razali Mohd Nor.