With a crop that has become an Iowa trademark, corn is quickly becoming something more than just a side dish. ISU laboratories are conducting important research on corn that may have beneficial effects in your everyday life and pocketbook.

Researchers, graduate students and undergraduate students are conducting research on corn genome mapping at Schnable Laboratory in the Roy J. Carver Co-Laboratory at Iowa State.

At the Schnable Laboratory, researchers have been plotting out points of interest on a corn’s genes, and with that information a number of outcomes are possible.

Corn has proven to be one of the most important crops in Iowa, including plastics that can be made out of the leaves of corn and livestock feed made to be more nutritious.

The corn genome mapping project has proven difficult, leading to the lab’s collaboration with labs at other universities such as Truman State University and the University of Georgia.

“We prepare all of the pieces of the map to be assembled by a computer,” said Adam Kapler, junior in biology and undergraduate lab assistant at Schnable Laboratory.

After the information is mapped, it can be altered. Researchers can also determine the function of a specific genome.

“To put it simply, we locate where the houses are on the street but we don’t know who lives in them,” said Joshua Shendelman, research associate.

After the corn genome is mapped and analyzed by a computer, the information can eventually be used to improve many products of corn.

For example, the production of insulin for diabetes patients can become more efficient with the results.

Another important use of the research in everyday life may be at the gas pump.

Kapler said corn’s output of ethanol can be made more efficient. With better functioning and more efficient corn, the salaries of Iowa farmers could increase, as well.

Shendelman said there are not many dangers related to the corn genome mapping research, as it is a very detailed study that must be tested and approved before it is made public.

“Once the map is complete, the information stays at ISU but it is made public,” Shendelman said. “Any person who wants to use it may do so.”

Approximately half of Schnable Laboratory’s resources went into the corn genome mapping project. With the completion of the corn genome mapping, Schnable researchers plan to start research on corn sequencing.

“Corn sequencing will give you the information you need to make changes to a plant’s genetic structure,” Kapler said.

Schnable Laboratory uses advanced equipment like the microarrayer, which is not used for mapping, but can determine if genes are turned on or off and by how much.

Although there is a great deal of genetics research going on at other universities, Iowa State is one of a few universities and research facilities conducting corn genome research.

Schnable Laboratory employs approximately 32 undergraduate lab assistants and 11 graduate students. Kapler said it has been an excellent job, giving him the opportunity to work on a huge project on campus with intelligent researchers.

“ISU has a lot of interesting research across campus in all the sciences,” Shendelman said. “I recommend students get a job working in one of these labs early, so they can get the experience they need for the real world.”

Students interested in helping can look on the AccessPlus job board to see what labs on campus are hiring.