Genomics Unit

Mission

To use genomic based technologies to unravel the genome structure and organization of oil palm and explore its full potential for sustainable production.
 

Objective

To develop and apply genomic based diagnostic tools to help improve the efficiency of oil palm breeding and tissue culture.
 

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 GroupCytogenetics GroupApplied Genetics & Transcriptomics 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.

Group Leader

Members

MDM. TING NGOOT CHIN

Research Officer

MS. NORHALIDA BINTI MOHAMED SERDARI
Research Officer

MS. SITI HAZIRAH BINTI ZOLKAFLI

Research Officer

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.

Group Leader

Members

 

MDM. NORDIANA HANIM BINTI MOHD NOR
Research Officer

MR. MUHAMMAD AZWAN BIN ZULKIFLI
Research Officer

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.

Group Leader

Members

DR. RAJINDER SINGH

Principal Research Officer

MS. KATIALISA KAMARUDDIN

Research Officer

MDM. INTAN ERNIEZA FARHANA BINTI NIZAN

Research Officer

Genome Analysis Laboratory for Oil Palm ( GALOP )SitogenLab

This facility is set up as a resource centre to serve both the industry and MPOB.
 
The following facilities are housed in GALOP:
  1. DNA banking
    • to deposit reference materials as cultures, DNA or tissues for future reference.
  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)

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.
Contact Person : Dr. Noorhariza Mohd Zaki (hariza@mpob.gov.my)