PlantSciences Overview
Application
Custom DNE meganucleases produced by Precision BioSciences can be used to site-specifically insert or remove traits at a user-defined location in the genome of row crops, biofuel feedstocks, and other commercially valuable plants. For example:
- Targeted gene insertion. Trait genes can be targeted to well-characterized genomic loci to enhance the stability of gene expression, reduce the hurdles to regulatory approval, or generate linkage groups with existing trait genes.
- Targeted gene knockout. Unwanted genes can be selectively and permanently inactivated.
- Marker removal. Unwanted genetic elements such as vector DNA or selectable marker genes can be excised from the genome prior to regulatory submission. This process ensures that only "minimally GM" plants are produced and marketed.
- Gene surgery. Valuable traits can be introduced through the direct modification of existing gene coding sequences. This approach ensures that the trait gene is appropriately expressed and should greatly accelerate regulatory approval.
Through Precision's academic and commercial collaborators, DNE technology has already been validated in multiple research and commercial crop species including Arabidopsis, tobacco, maize, among others.
