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University of California San Diego scientists developed the first CRISPR/Cas9 based gene drive in plants. Their goal is to breed resilient crops that can withstand drought and diseases.
Although gene drive technology for insects has been created to stop the spread and transmission of vector-borne diseases like Malaria, scientists in Professor Yunde Zha’s lab along with colleagues from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies showed that a CRISPR/Cas9-based genetic drive can be made in Arabidopsis plants.
CRISPR is an editing technique that allows for specific traits to be transmitted from one parent to the next generation. This breaks with traditional inheritance rules, which dictate that offspring inherit equal genetic material from each parent (Mendelian genes). This type of genetic engineering could also be used in agriculture, to increase crop yield and protect against diseases. The technology could also protect plants from climate change’s effects, such as increased drought conditions and a warmer planet.
The research, conducted by Tao Zhang, a postdoctoral researcher, and Michael Mudgett as a graduate student in Zhao’s lab, was published in the journal Nature Communications.
Zhao, a member of Section of Cell and Developmental Biology of Division of Biological Sciences stated, “This work defies all genetic constraints of reproductive reproduction that an offspring inherits 50 percent of their genes from each parent.” “This work allows inheritance to both copies of desired genes from one parent. The research can reduce the number needed to breed plants.
The Tata Institute for Genetics and Society in San Diego (TIGS), is behind this latest study. They were inspired by a new technology called Active Genetics that can influence the inheritance of population in a variety different applications.
Traditional genetic inheritance is expensive and takes time. This can lead to superior crops that are difficult to cultivate. The researchers believe that this genetic bias can be achieved more quickly using the active genetics technology CRISPR–Cas9
SureshSubramani, TIGS Global director, stated, “I am pleased that this gene-drive success, now achieved at TIGS by scientists in plants,”. This will revolutionize crop and plant breeding, and help to address the global food insecurity problem.
University of California – San Diego
Zhang, T., et al. (2021) Selective inheritance of target genes from only one parent of sexually reproduced F1 progeny in Arabidopsis. Nature Communications. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24195-5.