Chinese scientists have announced that they have nearly finished the genome map of the silkworm, a breakthrough which could benefit the silk industry all over the world.

Scientists said that though Japan, France, the US and Britain are all working on the task, China is the first to complete the draft genome map of the silkworm.

Since the project was launched in May, experts have measured 10 thousand base pairs of silkworms with DNA equipment and re-organized them with a supercomputer.

The completed genome map is expected to be finished next year.