The genes of "superior" oak trees are to be passed on thanks to a cloning experiment being carried out by scientists at Horticulture Research International. The experiment is to include the 1000 year old Sidney Oak growing in the grounds of Penshurst Place, near Tonbridge. The oak has had graffiti carved in its trunk, has been set on fire and survived the 1987 hurricane. Owner Viscount De L'Isle wanted to find a way of making the tree live on with HRI at East Malling providing the solution. HRI scientist Dr Time Marks said: "By grafting shoots onto oak seedlings we can transfer its genes to other oaks." The Sidney oak is not the only oak tree involved in the experiment. Marks explained that the overall aim is to make a collection of oak trees at East Malling. Graft wood is being collected by Dr Jason Hubert from the Oxford Forestry Institute from selected trees around the UK. Marks said: "We are very interested in the genetic background of theses trees - they have lived for a considerable amount of time and have beneficial genes which could be bred into future planting
material."
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