To Map Rice Genes

BEIJING (AP) - Chinese scientists plan to spend the next 15 years mapping

tens of thousands of rice genes in an effort to produce more nutritious, high-yield

strains of the grain.

The China Daily said it was the most ambitious gene-mapping project China has ever

attempted on any living organism.

Last year, rice accounted for nearly half of the 435 million tons of grain produced

in China.

The project has an initial investment of the equivalent of $U.S. 4 million from the

Chinese government.