1. The Future of Cannabis Genetics
Jonathan Page

2. Cannabis has been used for millennia
Food and oil (hemp)
Fibre (hemp)
Drug and Medicine
(“marijuana”)
THC

3. Cannabis produces a complex suite of bioactive metabolites:
The mixture is the medicine
Cannabinoids
psychoactivity
+ pain relief,
appetite,
antispasticity…
Terpenes

4. How are cannabinoids synthesized?
Cannabis sativa
(marijuana, hemp)

5. Glandular trichomes on cannabis flowers

6. 100 µm

7. Cannabis trichomes
Subcuticular
cavities
Secretory
disc cells

8. Trichome-specific gene expression analysis
RNA
Protein

9. Cannabis is the first medicinal plant with a sequenced genome
Collaboration with Tim Hughes (University of Toronto)
Published in Genome Biology in November 2011
Article accessed 97,925 times!
Cannabis haploid genome is ~820 Mbp
Genome organization
2n = 20
Nine autosomes
Two sex chromosomes (X and Y)
We sequenced three types:
Marijuana ‘Purple Kush’
~19% THCA
Hemp ‘Finola’
Low THCA, 4% CBDA
Hemp ‘USO-31’
Low to zero cannabinoids

10. The cannabinoid biosynthetic pathway      

11. Cannabinoid pathway bifurcation: “Marijuana” vs hemp
Marijuana – 18% THCA
THCA
THCA synthase
CBGA
CBDA synthase
CBDA
Hemp – 4% CBDA

12. Cannabis chemotypes result from simple genetics
Chemotypes are chemical phenotypes
Chemotype III (high CBD)
Chemotype II (THC:CBD) 
Chemotype I (high THC) 

13. Genetics of cannabinoid biosynthesis
THCA synthase
CBDA synthase
Chemotype I
(high THC)
Chemotype II
(THC:CBD mix)
Chemotype III
(high CBD)

14. Classification of Cannabis is (still!) unclear
sativa
indica
ruderalis
Cannabaceae
Hemp and marijuana
many strains and cultivars
four chemotypes
Family
Genus
Species?
Subspecies?

15. Marijuana strains: Indica vs Sativa
Thousands of strains exist
Most strains were developed for recreational use
Patients report that strains differ in their effects
Patients and growers differentiate two general types:
“Indica”
Short plant with broad leaves
Sedative and “body stone”
“Sativa”
Tall plant with narrow leaves
Stimulating and cerebral effects

16. Cannabis genotyping Three main questions:
What is the genetic structure of the genus Cannabis?
Are hemp and marijuana genetically distinct?
Are Indica and Sativa genetically distinct?
Collaboration with Sean Myles (Dalhousie University)
Accessed DNA samples representing diverse cannabis types:
43 hemp
81 marijuana samples
Analyzed using GBS (genotyping-by-sequencing)
14,031 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)

17. Cannabis genotyping: “marijuana” and hemp
Sawler et al, PLOS ONE 2015

18. The problem of germplasm - is cannabis endangered?
Genetic diversity is the basis of agricultural innovation!
Sources of new genetic traits such as disease resistance
BUT
Cannabis is undergoing genetic reduction
Drug prohibition has destroyed plants e.g. feral hemp
Legal exchange of seeds and plants is difficult
“Dutchification” is replacing landraces across the globe
Reliance on vegetative propagation (cloning)
Long-term seed viability is limited
MMPR restricts access to genetics
Preserving crop diversity requires seed banks (not just seed companies…), sustained funding and research efforts

19. The future of cannabis breeding
Cannabis breeding has been a huge success:
THC levels and yields have increased; CBD too
But has led to a narrowing of gene pool with focus on indoor cultivation and clonal propagation
High THC product with lower levels of other cannabinoids
Genetic traits for consumers:
Novel cannabinoid profiles for medical use
New terpene profiles
Sensory properties
Genetic traits for growers:
Disease and pest resistance
Higher yield, flowering time, plant architecture

20. Genomics assisted breeding of cannabisX
Select plants
from DNA & Chemotype
100s of seeds
back to breeder
100,000+
seeds
Analysis & prediction
DNA sequencing

21. Cannabis patents
Q: Is patenting of cannabis strains possible in Canada?
A: No. Canadian law does not allow patenting of higher life forms such as plants.
Registration of new varieties through Plant Breeders Rights is possible. PBR helps “protect the variety from exploitation by others”.
Varieties must be:
New
Distinct
Uniform
Stable
Currently 6 registered hemp varieties and 1 registered marijuana variety

22. Cannabis needs for more science!

23. Science leadership
Health Canada licensed lab
Analytical testing and QC
Genotyping services
Developing advanced cannabis strains