A local research team says it has discovered the correlation of rice genes for the first time in the world.

The team led by Yonsei University Professor Lee In-suk said it analyzed around half of some 40-thousand rice genes and completed “RiceNet,” which the team described as “an experimentally tested genome-scale gene network for a monocotyledonous species.”

During the process of completing RiceNet, the team said it found three genes that are key to the immune system of rice.

The team is expected to expand its scope of research to include corn and barley.

The team’s research results were unveiled in the recent online edition of leading science journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.