The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) signed an MOU with Chennai-based Genome Life Sciences Private Ltd. (GLS), to step up the research activities in genomics and bioinformatics in the field of Next General Sequencing (NGS).

The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr. K. Ramasamy, the Vice Chancellor of TNAU, and Vinoth Sankaran, the Chief Operating Officer of GLS. GLS will collaborate with TNAU in research and skill development programmes and training its faculty and students in genomics and bioinformatics through workshops, trainings and short courses.

Biotechnology is one of the breakthrough technologies of the 21st century. Dr. K. Ramasamy said that among the various biotechnology tools, genomics and bioinformatics help improve crops by identifying superior varieties through genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation. TNAU aims to unlock genome complexity of agriculturally important crops and microorganisms for improving the grain and food production in Tamil Nadu, he said.