Wormwood genome to be sequenced in Nanyang

Major breakthroughs on the sequencing of the wormwood genome are expected in Nanyang within two years, according to Chen Runsheng, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Chen is also a part-time bioinfomation professor at Nanyang Normal University, the first-ever Chinese university to carry out wormwood genome sequencing.

Chen made the remark in an interview on June 15. He said that the wormwood genome sequencing will help scientists in Nanyang figure out the hereditary code and biological attributes of wormwood, which are significant for recognizing its medical effects and determining its application in various medicines.

Nanyang is the largest wormwood plantation, purchasing, and manufacturing base in China. Currently, it boasts a wormwood plantation area of 10,000 hectares, some 1,360 wormwood manufacturers, and 6,800 e-commerce outlets. A complete industrial chain has already taken shape in the city, with annual revenue reaching 20 billion yuan ($3 billion). Nanyang's wormwood products take up more than 70 percent of the domestic market and have been exported to scores of countries and regions, including Japan, Korea, and some European countries.

However, Chen pointed out that the wormwood industry is still short of unified technical standards, and wormwood-related products have not yet created satisfactory added values.

Chen places great hopes on the ongoing wormwood genome research in Nanyang, which greatly benefits from the readily available wormwood breeds offered by local enterprises, the research strength of Nanyang Normal University, and regular guidance from CAS fellows like him. He believes that the scientific results will serve as key guides to establishing wormwood industrial standards, making the entire industry much more competitive on the global market.