Scientists Find 33 Genetic Markers In Marijuana That Can Be Targeted To Breed New ‘Enhanced’ Strains ‘Tailored For Medical And Recreational Uses’

Scientists report that they’ve identified 33 “significant markers” in the
cannabis genome that “significantly influence cannabinoid production”—a
finding they say promises to drive the development of new plant varieties
with specific cannabinoid profiles.

The new article, published last month in the journal The Plant Genome, says
the results “offer valuable guidance for *Cannabis *breeding programs,
enabling the use of precise genetic markers to select and refine promising
*Cannabis* varieties.”

“This approach promises to speed up the breeding process, reduce costs
significantly compared to traditional methods, and ensure that the
resulting *Cannabis* varieties are optimized for specific medical and
recreational needs,” authors wrote, calling the study “a significant stride
toward fully integrating *Cannabis* into modern agricultural practices and
genetic research, paving the way for future innovations.”

The analysis involved use of “a high-density genotyping approach” looking
at thousands of molecular markers across the genome of 174 cannabis
specimens in Canada, each with known levels of cannabinoids such as THCA,
CBDA and CBN.

“Using suitable statistical methods,” the team said, “we identified 33
molecular markers associated with 11 cannabinoid traits, most of them
having a high impact on the phenotype.”

Among the findings were what the paper calls a “massive” set of genes on
one plant chromosome that involved about 60 megabases (Mb) and was
associated specifically with THC-dominant cannabis strains.

Authors—from Université Laval in Québec, Canada—said the research
represents a shift away from years of cannabis prohibition that “have
impeded the establishment of genetic resource collections and the
development of advanced breeding practices, thus limiting both the genetic
improvement and the understanding of *Cannabis *traits.”

“These molecular markers will be highly valuable in breeding programs
aiming to create new Cannabis variety with enhanced and specific
cannabinoid profiles tailored for medical and recreational uses.”

The markers uncovered in the new study “will constitute an essential tool
in breeding programs,” the report says, and “promise to accelerate the
selection process for promising accessions, potential crossing parents,
while significantly reducing costs associated with labor-intensive
phenotype-based selection methods.”

The new findings come on the heels of a recent announcement by researchers
in South Korea that they successfully identified a new
cannabinoid—cannabielsoxa—as well as a number of other compounds “reported
for the first time from the flowers of *C. sativa*.”

Published in the journal Pharmaceuticals, that paper says researchers used
chromatographic techniques to isolate the compounds. They also examined
their molecular structures and used a metabolic testing method to assess
their toxicity to certain cancer cells.

“This study successfully isolated a new cannabinoid and six known
cannabinoid compounds, along with a new chlorin-type compound and three
additional chlorine-type compounds,” the study said, “which were reported
for the first time from the flowers of *C. sativa*.”

The new cannbinoid, cannabielsoxa, was not among the compounds that
researchers identified as potentially toxic to neuroblastoma cells, however.

Other research, published by the American Chemical Society in 2023, identified
“previously undiscovered cannabis compounds” that challenged conventional
wisdom of what really gives cannabis varieties their unique olfactory
profiles.

While research into marijuana has exploded in recent years as the result of
more jurisdictions legalizing the drug for medical and adult use, it’s
unclear how the Trump administration’s priorities will impact that trend.

For example, under the new administration, “marijuana” is also now one of
nearly two dozen “controversial or high-profile topics” that staff and
researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) are required to clear
with higher-ups before writing about.

A recently leaked agency memo put marijuana and opioids on a list along
with vaccines, COVID-19, fluoride, measles, abortion, autism, diversity and
gender ideology and other issues that are believed to be personal
priorities of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and
President Trump.

NCI is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which itself is
part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Prior to publishing anything on the specified topics, NCI staff are
required to send the materials to an agency clearance team, the memo said..

“Depending on the nature of the information, additional review and
clearance by the NCI director, deputy directors, NIH, and HHS may be
required,” it advised staff. “In some cases, the material will not need
further review, but the NCI Clearance Team will share it with NCI
leadership, NIH, and/or HHS for their awareness.”

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The post Scientists Find 33 Genetic Markers In Marijuana That Can Be
Targeted To Breed New ‘Enhanced’ Strains ‘Tailored For Medical And
Recreational Uses’ appeared first on Marijuana Moment.