My Thoughts on Technology and Jamaica: July 2014

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Introducing the Samsung Galaxy S5 – 16 Megapixel Camera with Fingerprint Scanner and Fitness Tracker is Improved Fun Experience in a better Business Suit

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd is revolutionizing the way users interact with their mobile devices with the new and exciting Samsung Galaxy S5.  Imagine having all this technology at your fingertips. It thus becomes clear why the Samsung Galaxy S5 is the phone of choice, offering a host of possibilities to its users

Those that have chosen the Samsung Galaxy S5 experience will definitely be getting best of both worlds in this smartphone that doubles as personal smartphone that wears a suit! It’s no surprise that Samsung Galaxy S5 users have caught on to this smart device since it’s unveiling. Its customer-driven response is marked by Samsung’s impeccable attention to detail.

Samsung Galaxy S5 – Improved Fun Experience in a better Business Suit

Here’s what Samsung has package in this newest invention!  Rip-speed navigation to match today’s fast-paced user with:

1.      Improved battery life
2.      Powerful cameras
3.      Improved security

With dimensions of142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm, the Galaxy S5 is svelte and slim. It fits perfectly in the palm of your hands.  Modern, sophisticated and boasting one of the sleekest and freshest designs you’ll ever get your hands on, its Super AMOLED Full HD 5´1” screen is great for watching videos and apps in extraordinary quality.


Textured with tiny perforations, the phone’s back panel not only gives it that unique look that sets it apart from others but also makes for greater comfort in the user’s grip.  Choose from any of our four eye-catching colours:

1.      Black and white
2.      Blue
3.      Electric Gold

Despite these fancy accouterments, its IP67 certification means your Samsung Galaxy S5 will be safe from Water and Dust, making it virtually impervious to the elements.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 – 16 Megapixel Camera, Fingerprint Scanner, Kid and Emergency Modes

The unbeatable 16 Megapixel Camera with built-in auto-focus that snaps into shape in a mere 0.3 seconds makes the Samsung S5, hands down, the world’s fastest camera on a mobile device. But it doesn’t end there!  Selective Focus is an interesting feature of this powerful Camera; you keep the point of focus only in that part of the image that you want while blurring the rest. At no point do you leave the HDR mode integrated into the camera’s software that helps you improve the lighting in your treasured photos and videos.

Still, you’ve gotta keep your Business and Personal lives separate. Samsung understands. That’s why they’ve build a fingerprint scanner that doubles as your ID for unblocking your smartphone and making Mobile payments. After all, no one can steal your Biometric Identity and your fingerprint is as secure as it gets.

An even deeper side to its security is that it can easily slip into the Kids Mode that’s a sandbox for them to play. Samsung Galaxy S5 has adapted a kid-centric user interface the user interface loaded with entertaining and educational games. 

Parents need not worry about curious kids getting their hands on forbidden material; PIN number blocks them on the device as I’ve described in my blog article entitled “How to Lock down your Child’s Tablet or smartphone and Apps to Block, Protect and Notify you of your Child’s whereabouts Online - Defense Against the Dark Arts”.

And as if that’s not enough, Samsung Galaxy S5 Emergency Mode can help you if your being kidnapped. Should the unfortunate situation befall you and you feel in danger, at the push of button, it will transmit a help message to your emergency contacts structured as follows:

1.      One photo taken from the Front camera
2.      One photo taken from the Rear Camera
3.      5-second audio recording
4.      GPS location

Samsung Galaxy S5 – Fitness Tracker, Broadband Internet and Ultra Power Save Mode

The new Samsung Galaxy S5 comes fully loaded with features to help you stay at your fittest.  If health and wellness are your priorities, then you’re in good hands with the Samsung Galaxy S5’s enhanced 3.0 S Health Tool:

1.      Podometer
2.      Diet
3.      Exercise records
4.      Heart rate monitor

The Fitness Tracker helps you follow-up on your routine while you monitor and manage your every step to achieving your wellness goals. With tools like the 3.0 S Health Tool Samsung Galaxy S5 is sure to become your best ally as you get to your wellness goals.

And it’s fast on Wireless Broadband Internet too! It’s compatible with 5th generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi, 2x2 MIMO and a standard category 4 LTE.  MIMO lets you combine your Wi-Fi connections for faster data transfer. The most impressive feature is the built-in Download Booster technology which allows you to use 4G LTE and Wi-Fi, boosting Internet performance online. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S5 caters fully to the needs of the user with faster and more efficient connectivity.

Finally, the Ultra Power Save Mode give you 24 hours to live with visa conserving on Battery usage in your final 10% of life as explained in my blog article entitled “Samsung Galaxy S5’s Ultra Power Save Mode - Samsung gives you 24 Hours to Die Another Day as This is Not The End”.

It does this by deactivating less essential apps and just dealing with Calls and Text Messages. The Samsung Galaxy then puts on a Suite and Tie in a Black and White Affair on screen, reducing power consumption and resulting in an incredible additional 10 hours of Internet surfing and 12 hours of video playback!

With a long and proven history of innovation, Samsung delivers yet again to its customers, setting itself apart as leaders in technology. Like what you see here?

Then go to your nearest Telecom Provider Store, be Telecom Provider Digicel or Telecom Provider LIME and purchase a Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S5’s Ultra Power Save Mode - Samsung gives you 24 Hours to Die Another Day as This is Not The End

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd is revolutionizing the way users interact with their mobile devices with the new and exciting Samsung Galaxy S5.  Imagine having all this technology at your fingertips. It thus becomes clear why the Samsung Galaxy S5 is the phone of choice, offering a host of possibilities to its users

Those that have chosen the Samsung Galaxy S5 experience will definitely be getting best of both worlds in this smartphone that doubles as personal smartphone that wears a suit! It’s no surprise that Samsung Galaxy S5 users have caught on to this smart device since it’s unveiling. Its customer-driven response is marked by Samsung’s impeccable attention to detail.

Samsung Galaxy S5 – Improved Fun Experience in a better Business Suit

Here’s what Samsung has package in this newest invention!  Rip-speed navigation to match today’s fast-paced user with:

1.      Improved battery life
2.      Powerful cameras
3.      Improved security

With dimensions of142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm, the Galaxy S5 is svelte and slim. It fits perfectly in the palm of your hands.  Modern, sophisticated and boasting one of the sleekest and freshest designs you’ll ever get your hands on, its Super AMOLED Full HD 5´1” screen is great for watching videos and apps in extraordinary quality.


Textured with tiny perforations, the phone’s back panel not only gives it that unique look that sets it apart from others but also makes for greater comfort in the user’s grip.  Choose from any of our four eye-catching colours:

1.      Black and white
2.      Blue
3.      Electric Gold

Despite these fancy accouterments, its IP67 certification means your Samsung Galaxy S5 will be safe from Water and Dust, making it virtually impervious to the elements.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 – 16 Megapixel Camera, Fingerprint Scanner, Kid and Emergency Modes

The unbeatable 16 Megapixel Camera with built-in auto-focus that snaps into shape in a mere 0.3 seconds makes the Samsung S5, hands down, the world’s fastest camera on a mobile device. But it doesn’t end there!  Selective Focus is an interesting feature of this powerful Camera; you keep the point of focus only in that part of the image that you want while blurring the rest. At no point do you leave the HDR mode integrated into the camera’s software that helps you improve the lighting in your treasured photos and videos.

Still, you’ve gotta keep your Business and Personal lives separate. Samsung understands. That’s why they’ve build a fingerprint scanner that doubles as you ID for unblocking your smartphone and making Mobile payments. After all, no one can steal your Biometric Identity and your fingerprint is as secure as it gets.

An even deeper side to its security is that it can easily slip into the Kids Mode that’s a sandbox for them to play. Samsung Galaxy S5 has adapted a kid-centric user interface the user interface loaded with entertaining and educational games. 

Parents need not worry about curious kids getting their hands on forbidden material; PIN number blocks them on the device as I’ve described in my blog article entitled “How to Lock down your Child’s Tablet or smartphone and Apps to Block, Protect and Notify you of your Child’s whereabouts Online - Defense Against the Dark Arts”.

And as if that’s not enough, Samsung Galaxy S5 Emergency Mode can help you if your being kidnapped. Should the unfortunate situation befall you and you feel in danger, at the push of button, it will transmit a help message to your emergency contacts structured as follows:

1.      One photo taken from the Front camera
2.      One photo taken from the Rear Camera
3.      5-second audio recording
4.      GPS location

Samsung Galaxy S5 – Fitness Tracker, Broadband Internet and Ultra Power Save Mode

The new Samsung Galaxy S5 comes fully loaded with features to help you stay at your fittest.  If health and wellness are your priorities, then you’re in good hands with the Samsung Galaxy S5’s enhanced 3.0 S Health Tool:

1.      Podometer
2.      Diet
3.      Exercise records
4.      Heart rate monitor

The Fitness Tracker helps you follow-up on your routine while you monitor and manage your every step to achieving your wellness goals. With tools like the 3.0 S Health Tool Samsung Galaxy S5 is sure to become your best ally as you get to your wellness goals.

And it’s fast on Wireless Broadband Internet too! It’s compatible with 5th generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi, 2x2 MIMO and a standard category 4 LTE.  MIMO lets you combine your Wi-Fi connections for faster data transfer. The most impressive feature is the built-in Download Booster technology which allows you to use 4G LTE and Wi-Fi, boosting Internet performance online. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S5 caters fully to the needs of the user with faster and more efficient connectivity.

Finally, the Ultra Power Save Mode give you 24 hours to live with visa conserving on Battery usage in your final 10% of life as explained in my blog article entitled “Samsung Galaxy S5’s Ultra Power Save Mode - Samsung gives you 24 Hours to Die Another Day as This is Not The End”.

It does this by deactivating less essential apps and just dealing with Calls and Text Messages. The Samsung Galaxy then puts on a Suite and Tie in a Black and White Affair on screen, reducing power consumption and resulting in an incredible additional 10 hours of Internet surfing and 12 hours of video playback!

With a long and proven history of innovation, Samsung delivers yet again to its customers, setting itself apart as leaders in technology. Like what you see here?

Then go to your nearest Telecom Provider Store, be Telecom Provider Digicel or Telecom Provider LIME and purchase a Samsung Galaxy smartphone.




IDC Stats for Second Quarter of 2014 points to Asian Smartphone Rise – How cheaper smartphones are slowly killing BOTH Apple and Samsung marketshare

It’s not shaping up to be a good year for either Samsung or Apple as both are seeing declines in the Second Quarter of 2014. This as their competitor, mostly Asian based smartphone makers such as Huawei, Lenovo and LG Electronics are recording record-breaking numbers according to the figures presented by IDC in the article “Chinese phone makers gain amid smartphone surge”, published July 29, 2014 11:40 AM PDT by Rachel King, CNET News.


According to the IDC in the Second Quarter of 2014:

1.      295.3 million units shipped worldwide
2.      23.1% annual growth
3.      2.6% Quarterly growth

Take a gander at the IDC Stats Table below and it all becomes clear when the Second Quarter of 2013 is compared to the Second Quarter of 2014:


Huawei, Lenovo and LG Electronics are all seeing growth in shipments while shipment has declined slightly for Samsung. Huawei’s shipments have even doubled from 10.4 million in the Second Quarter of 2013 to 20.3 million in Second Quarter of 2014. Apple's shipments are up for the first time this year but like Samsung, their marketshare is declining even as their competition’s marketshare is inching forward.

IDC Stats points to Asia – Cheaper smartphones taking away Apple and Samsung marketshare

Clearly the cheaper smartphones being made by Huawei, who'd practically double their shipments, means that they're on their way to becoming the Smartphone of choice. With IDC cautioning explosive quarterly growth, collectively Asian Smartphone makers have still managed to sweeten the expectations of analysts by pointing to the smartphone makers collectively cracking the 300-million-unit mark during the Third Quarter of 2014.

Here in Jamaica, we don't have to be told this, as it's become obvious which smartphone is the clear winner on specs and choice. This is already becoming a summer of the Huawei Ascend Y330 smartphone in Jamaica.

Their competitive pricing on offer by Telecom Provider LIME as I'd reported in my comparison entitled “JA$3999 Huawei Ascend Y330 vs JA$7599 Digicel DL700 this Summer of 2014 - Waggonists Transfer Form not Required to get new smartphone” makes the choice of a smartphone a no-brainer.

But what of Tablets? Well here’s a teaser!

I’ll be doing another article analyzing their progress this Second Quarter, as if the trend holds from the First Quarter of 2014 as explained in my blog article entitled “IDC and NPD Group record Tablet Decline and Phablet Rise - “White Box” Chinese Tablets and Wearable Computing in First Quarter of 2014 making Tablets obsolete in the Year of the Sheep”, cheaper Chinese Tablets will continue to by stealing the show.

Keep following my blog for more details!!

Samsung Electronics Launches Samsung GALAXYApps - How Samsung’s Galaxy Just got some new Star Apps

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., last week launched Samsung GALAXYApps, an App store that offers hundreds of Apps exclusively available to users of Samsung Galaxy mobile devices. The newly rebranded Samsung Apps Store which launched on Thursday July 10th 2014 as stated in “Samsung rebrands app store as Galaxy Apps, adds new perks”, published July 10, 2014 7:12 PM PDT by Dara Kerr, CNET News, is an improvement upon its predecessor.

It features Apps that will allow greater customization of mobile devices, and will also function as a Platform to offer various promotions and discounts. If you’re online on your Desktop or Laptop right now, check out the Samsung Content and Services Page for the Samsung GALAXYApps.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd is no stranger to innovation and is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. They’re well known for their products in the worlds of TVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, cameras, home appliances, printers, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. With some 286,000 people across 80 countries and racking up annual sales of US$216.7 billion, they’re on a path towards achieving Global dominance in their various fields.


Samsung GALAXYApps is an extension of that ambition to quote WonPyo Hong, President of the Media Solution Center at Samsung Electronics: “At Samsung, we continuously strive to create value for our customers by providing differentiated solutions and services coupled with innovative devices. Samsung GALAXYApps is an extension of that promise, as it offers our customers exclusive Apps to enrich their experience.”

Samsung GALAXYApps – Samsung’s Galaxy Just got some new Stars

Samsung GALAXYApps features an intuitive user interface comprised of three (3) sections:

1.      Best Picks
2.      For Galaxy
3.      Top

Best Picks allows users to easily find recommended Apps and promotions, while Top showcases the most popular Apps which can be viewed according to their popularity, date, and price.

The For Galaxy includes up to four (4) sections:

1.      Galaxy Gifts offers premium Apps exclusively for Galaxy devices.
2.      Galaxy Essentials delivers must-have Apps for Galaxy devices.
3.      Apps for Professionals is the home of business focused Apps and other services that fully utilize the features of Galaxy devices.
4.      Galaxy Specialist users download Apps specifically created by using Samsung Software Development Kits (SDKs)

Best of all, Developers can partake of Samsung’s newly revamped App Store by becoming developers of Apps Specific to the App store. Samsung GALAXYApps will eventually be available to over 130 million users across 161 countries around the world.

For more information, please visit http://Apps.samsung.com/ on your Samsung Galaxy Smartphone!



Tuesday, July 29, 2014

JPS Co says Prepaid Power by December 2014 – How SolarMill Alternative Energy Solution will be a part of Prepaid Power

“We wanted to get it in and piloted before our Customer Information System upgrade. We will be able to roll it out after the pilot, we think in the fourth quarter islandwide. We are excited for customer”

CEO of JPS Co (Jamaica Public Service Company) Kelly Tomblin commenting on plans to implement Prepaid Power in Jamaica

Finally at long last, the JPS Co (Jamaica Public Service Company) has made up its mind and has announced plans to roll out Prepaid Power by December 2014 as announced in “Prepaid electricity service for Jamaicans by year-end”, published Sunday July 27, 2014, The Jamaica Gleaner.

JPS Co has allegedly been testing Prepaid Power under the quiet among a select set of Guinea-Pigs….er, I mean customers….. in Portmore, St. Catherine. It should have come on stream back in July 2013, a  topic about which I’d written and had actually been interviewed on CVM TV on Monday May 20th 2013 as I’d chronicled in my blog article entitled “Prepaid Power coming in July 2013 - A Chip, a Pebble a Rock and a Block would make Prepaid Power The Kings of Summer”.

Prepaid Power by December 2014 - Remote Billing and Remote Disconnection a possibility

No details on Prepaid Power, muchless the name, save to say the concept is very similar to Prepaid Voucher Credit from Telecom Providers as explained in my blog article entitled “JPS Co introduces Prepaid Power and reduces Industrial Electricity Rates in July 2013 - JPS Co copies Telecom Providers as it performs The Last Exorcism Part II of Jamaicans stealing Electricity”.

All controllable via a Digital Smart meter whose usage you can gauge via an App on your smartphone or query via SMS (Short Messaging Service) or Text Messaging. Prepaid Power would basically be configured like Prepaid Data Plans as used by Telecom Providers and would be broken down into four possible services:

1.      1 Day Power Services
2.      7 Day Power Services
3.      14 Day Power Services
4.      30 Day Power Services

 This would make Remote Billing and Remote Disconnection a possibility as described in my Geezam blog article entitled “JPS Co Analog Meter upgrade heralds Remote Billing Revolution”. One thing is for sure though; if this is implemented, it’ll be as popular as Prepaid smartphones!

And just as the JA$3999 Huawei Ascend Y330 smartphones from Telecom Provider LIME is popular as declared in my blog article entitled “JA$3999 Huawei Ascend Y330 vs JA$7599 Digicel DL700 this Summer of 2014 - Waggonists Transfer Form not Required to get new smartphone”, it may be powered by Telecom Provider LIME Data Network.

Prepaid Power by December 2014 – How SolarMill Alternative will be a part of Prepaid Power

Since July 2013, a lot has happened.

For one, JPS Co in September 2013 has entered into a deal with US Based WindStream Technologies to market their SolarMill Technology in Jamaica as noted in my blog article entitled “JPS Co decided to market WindStream Technologies SolarMill, the all-in-one hybrid Solar and Wind Generator - Winter is Coming for a Game of Thrones in Jamaica”.

Additionally the CET (Common External Tariff) on Alternative Energy Gear has been removed since February 2014  my blog article entitled “Common External Tariff Removed from Alternative Energy and Energy-Saving Devices - Prepaid Power realistically Possible as Electricity Thieves can seek Repentance by going Solar”. The importation of Solar Panels and anything Alternative Energy related is a little cheaper for the financially well-off.

JPS Co may thus have plans to not only implement Prepaid Power, but to also introduce other services tied to Alternative Energy. This as Prepaid Power requires that the customer’s Premesis have a Digital Meter to accurately gauge Power usage, Provider Remote Billing Services and Remote Disconnection once the amount that the customer has paid for in KWh has been used as per my blog article entitled “JPS Co New Digital Meters are all Smart Meters - Winsome Callum's A Simple Twist of Fate”.

Once installed and a customer is on the Prepaid Meter System, which of course is a Digital Meter, they may in the future opt to have a SolarMill installed at their Premesis. This option would be via an Alternative Energy Loan in partnership with ScotiaBank or JNBS (Jamaican National Building Society) as described in my blog article entitled “ScotiaBank and VMBS now offering Alternative Energy Loans - Rise of the Guardians to make Solar Power affordable to Jamaicans”..

Then the customer would pay a Flat Rate Power Service Plan instead of a 1 Day, 7 Day, 14 Day or 30 Day Power Services Plan. That Flat Rate Power Service Plan covers both the loan repayment for the SolarMill as well as Billing for usage.

This would effectively the equivalent of a Prepaid Data Plan usually used by Telecom Providers to provide Electricity as described in my blog article entitled “Digicel's JA$70 Data Plans vs LIME's JA$50 Data Plans - How to choose 3-Day and 30-Day Data Plans in Jamaica”.

That last part may sound crazy. In fact, ludicrous!

But considering that Electricity Costs may not go down anytime soon via the so-far stalled 381 MW LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) Project described in my blog article entitled “Dr. Vincent Lawrence to oversee the 381 MW LNG Project - All Powerful Essene Brotherhood to Resurrect PNP General Election 2016 Win like Osiris, anything is possible.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see JPS Co go this route of Flat Rate Power Service Plan to BOTH sell both WindStream Technologies SolarMill Technology

All in a bid to provide a service and be paid for said service, which is the  production and Distribution of Electricity, be it generated or from Alternative Energy Sources. Stay tuned as mode Details come to light!




BBSRC Professor Kell’s Chinese Spring Wheat Genome started from the Bottom of the Wheat Field

“In the face of this year's wheat crop losses, and worries over the impact on prices for consumers, this breakthrough in our understanding of the bread wheat genome could not have come at a better time. This modern strategy is a key component to supporting food security and gives breeders the tools to produce more robust varieties with higher yields”

BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) Chief Executive Professor Douglas Kell of the University of Liverpool on the decoding of the Chinese Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)Genome

After nearly four (4) years of Research a Team at BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) led by Professor Douglas Kell of the University of Liverpool and has finally cracked the Bread Wheat Genome as reported in “Genetic blueprint for wheat deciphered”, published Saturday, July 19, 2014, The Jamaica Observer.

The Bread Wheat, also known as the Chinese Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), has a Genome that consists of some 20 Chromosomes located inside of the nucleus of each cell. These Chromosomes which are composed of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) are in turn composed of sequences of three bases composed of combinations of Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C) or Thiamine (T) called Codons.

Each Codon represents an Amino Acid that makes up a protein molecule and specific sequences of Codons representing a Protein are called Genes. Amazingly, for such a simple organism, the Chinese Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has a Genome that’s five (5) times the size of the Human Genome, due to the fact that it’s a grass that was bred by humans to be edible by cross-breeding with other edible grasses.

According to their publication in the Journal Nature, there is a total of 124,000 Genes, representing 124,000 proteins that were located by the BBSRC Team, but only 90,000 of those Genes were sequence:

1.      The positions of the Codons within the DNA worked out
2.      Proteins that these Genes produce
3.      Genotype (Genetic characteristics) and Phenotype (Physical characteristics) they represent

The Genome Sequencing Study was led by Professor Douglas Kell of the University of Liverpool and co-authored by Dr Anthony Hall, from the University Institute of Integrative Biology. It coincides rather neatly with a French Research Team announcing recently they'd mapped a complete Bread Wheat Chromosome, known as 3B. This leaves that Research Team with a long journey ahead of them, as they have some 20 more Chromosomes to decipher in order to completely decode the Genome of Bread Wheat.

Their four year quest was funded by the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) of which Professor Douglas Kell of the University of Liverpool is Chief Executive. His team pooled their efforts and resources with the following Universities and Institutes:

1.      Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology in Germany
2.      Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in the USA
3.      University of California in the USA
4.      University of Bristol in the UK
5.      University Institute of Integrative Biology in the UK

Researchers focused on a cultivated wheat variety known as Chinese Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and have decoded 90,000 of the 124,000 Genes that make up the Wheat Genome. This, published in the Journal Nature, is a landmark discovery and is of greatest significance to the Agriculture Sciences World as Wheat is the World's third biggest crop after maize and rice.

Professor Kell’s Wheat – Started from the Bottom of the Wheat Field Now we here

Four years?

Back in 2010, Professor Douglas Kell of the University of Liverpool, who was then head of the Britain's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) announced they’re cracked the Wheat Genome as stated in “Scientists: We've Cracked Wheat's Genetic Code”, published  Aug. 27, 2010 | 11:08 a.m. EDT, Associated Press.

Back then, I was so impressed by the news that I’d done a pair of articles predicting how it would revolutionize the development of GM (Genetic Modified) Foods by making Wheat more Drought resistant as stated in my blog article entitled “Wheat Genome Cracked - Nature Valley vs the Island of Dr. Moreau” and “Wheat Genome Cracked - GM for US and Jamaica's Agriculture Revitalization”.


I suspect that this discovery differs because of the variety of Wheat whose Genome was sequenced, that being the Chinese Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Additionally, it’s also the method used to sequence the Chinese Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genome.

So how did they do it?

They realized that the different families of Wheat were related to each other and to similar Food Grasses with simpler Genomes such as Rice and Barley and some of its ancestors, which had long ago been decoded using conventional Genome Sequencing Methods as explained in “Scientists decipher Genetic code of wheat” published 28 November 2012, ScienceDaily.

The Team hypothesized that the more advanced Grasses such as Wheat not only were complex and thus had more Genomes, but shared the same Chromosomes and even Genes with these predecessors to who them they were related but just happened to still be around. Evolution mean that they're all related, just slightly differentiated from their common Grass Ancestor.

Knowing the complete Genome of those Grasses, they simply just used a special algorithm developed by the John Innes Centre to do a count of the total number of Chromosomes in each Genome and the location of the Genes within each Chromosome. Then they’d look for Genetic markers that were similar for each Gene making up the Chromosome within the Chinese Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genome to those in Rice and Barley and earlier grasses.

They did the comparison against Genome Databases provided by the Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology in Germany and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and the University of California in the US. The unidentified Chromosomes within the Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genome was then sequenced using the conventional Genome Sequencing methods, thus greatly speeding up the process.

Chinese Spring Wheat Genome – Jacob’s Ladder Sequencing of Complex Plants

Think of it like designing a smartphone or an Aeroplane, both fields with which I'm all too familiar being as I'd made design improvements to the Twin-Engine Airbus E-Fan All-Electric Airplane as detailed in my blog article entitled “Airbus Group and the E-Fan – EU's Flightpath 2050 heralds All-Electric Aircraft as Fischer–Tropsch Process makes Kerosene Renewable”.

Because many persons have done it before, you don't need to start from ground zero and design the smartphone or airplane; you just use the blueprints for a simpler model and add to the design, as Airbus had done. Simple as that!

By identifying the differences in the Genomes of Chinese Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to that Rice and Barley and some of its ancestors, they were able to not only quickly sequence the complex Wheat Genome, but separate the known Genes within the Chromosomes and determine the Genes and their known genotype and phenotype. Thus, their map wasn’t just a listing of Genomes for the purpose of bragging of the academic triumph of sequencing a plant that was heretofore difficult.  It had straight-out-the-Lab practical applications to Crop Breeders as well.

They could use the information to identify features of other hardier Grasses and thus cross-breed them with the Chinese Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), either in the field over several Generations or via companies using Laboratory techniques to create the desired traits required to make Chinese Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) more suited to surviving various environments.

This technique can lead to the sequencing of even more complex Grasses, such as Sugar Cane, as suggested by the rather upbeat Professor Neil Hall from the University's Institute of Integrative Biology, who apparently is trying to get a photo-op here, quote: “Wheat is a large and complex genome; arguably the most complex genome to be sequenced to date. Although the genome has not been fully decoded, we now have instrumentation that can read DNA hundreds of times faster than the systems that were used to sequence the human genome. This technology can now be applied to other Genomes previously considered to be too difficult for detailed Genetic study, such as sugar cane, an important biofuel crop”.

That means in the near future, companies that specialize in making GMO (Generically Modified Organisms) from this information such as Monsanto, can make varieties of Chinese Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that can grow in virtual any climate Region of the World under various conditions i.e. high Temperature, extreme dryness, extreme sunlight, etc.

Possessing this knowledge also means that we can a means of staving off Global Hunger by being able to produce varieties of a plant that's a staple of 30% of the World's population. It's also used to make the most common of foods, that being Flour, which is used to make Bread and thus is literally our #BreadandButter. Its significance wasn’t lost upon co-chair of the IWGSC (International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium) Catherine Feuillet, quote: “We have reached a great milestone in our roadmap”.

With our World population projected to reach some 9 billion by 2050. Wheat Production has been falling globally by some 5.5% from 2000 to 2008 due to Climate Change, according to a study in the journal Science by researchers at the IWGSC.  Having the ability to modify wheat to grow anywhere, even in the Desert, will be a priority going forward!