Despite the fact that the project is Dr. Mac Kiernan received a fairly wide media coverage, the scientist himself told the Botanist Society of America that his works are only a new milestone in the study of a plant that has been studied for a long time, built on the foundations of older studies on the structure of the genome and the properties of certain components of cannabis.
“In drawing up the cannabis genome map, we were guided by the mass of knowledge that was generated during the whole century of studying cannabis and its psychoactive properties,” reports Mac Kiernan. “Where there was an opportunity, our team actively collaborated with other specialists, including scientists, who made a truly radical discovery in the field of cannabis research. We ourselves hope that this work will itself become the foundation for further research in the field of medicine and hemp breeding. ”
“Of course, the main active components of cannabis, namely, THC and CBD, were discovered and described in detail, literally half a century before the completion of the project of the genetic map of cannabis,” said Dr. Russo. “However, an accurate map of the plant’s genome will allow us to study in more detail the existing variation of the hemp genes, in particular, the mechanism of the physiological interaction of known cannabinoids with CB receptors, as well as the properties of more rare and poorly studied, exotic cannabinoids.”
Also, did Dr. Rousseau summarize the main breakthroughs made real by the work of Mac Kiernan and teams. Among them, the doctor attributed the identification and characterization of the mechanism of operation of THC synthase; cloning and crystallization processes of THC synthase (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, a direct precursor of THC); Isolation and purification of THCA synthase for natural production of high concentrations of this substance in plant tissues, as well as identification of a unique polymorphism of nucleotides of the plant genome, detected by analyzing a sample of hemp seeds extracted from the tombs of an ancient Chinese dynasty.
At the same time, Dr. Rousseau noted that over the past 10 years, legal cannabis cultivators from the USA and Europe have already been able, through artificial breeding, to independently produce plants capable of producing not only high concentrations of THC and CBD, but also such cannabinoids, KBG and CBC, as well as acid precursors such as TGKK, KBKK, KBGK and KVMK.
“Of course, these agronomist specialists have done no less than titanic work, which in no way will be impaired by the production of synthetic variations of cannabis plants,” notes Mac Kiernan. “However, with new knowledge regarding the cannabis genome, in particular, the structure and properties of the THC synthase, we can finally proceed to the synthesis and study of the properties of the 77 cannabinoid compounds that are present in cannabis in too tiny concentrations to conduct a detailed analysis and testing.
Finally, Mac Kiernan open to the possibility of selective modification of the hemp plant genome itself, to improve properties such as yield, endurance to weather and temperature changes, as well as resistance to attacks of pests and parasites. “For example, similar qualities of a cannabis plant can be enhanced by adding to its genome segments of the genetic code for Rezuhovidka, one of the first plants for which a detailed genetic map was compiled,” he notes to journalists.
At the moment, the company Medical Genomics continues to expand its database, adding to it new information on the variation of cannabis gene expression, while Mac Kiernan himself ? is studying the plant’s genome map, searching for the answer to the question of why most of the known cannabinoids are produced in cannabis tissues in such meager amounts, as well as analyzing their possible effects on the functioning of the human body.