International Consortium Sequences Resurrection Plant to Develop Drought Tolerant Crops
An international research team led by Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands has sequenced the genome of Xerophyta viscosa, also called the �resurrection plant.'
Scientists Discover Gene that Doubles Artemisinin Production in Artemisia annua Plant
The plant Artemisia annua has been used for more than 2,000 years in traditional Chinese medicine to treat intermittent fevers. The artemisinin molecule � the active ingredient synthesized in this plant's trichomes � is the main component of malaria treatments worldwide. But the low content produced by the plant and the high cost of its chemical synthesis result in a scarce and costly drug.
An international team of researchers led by the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) and Sequentia Biotech S.L. has been able to obtain, through genetic engineering, Artemisia annua plants that produce twice as much artemisinin. The research team has identified a gene involved in the formation of plant trichomes and in the synthesis of terpenes, such as artemisinin. The AaMYB1 gene has a dual function: it promotes trichome formation in the leaves and artemisinin synthesis inside the trichomes. Soraya Pelaz, CRAG researcher and senior author of the study said, "By manipulating this gene, we have managed to grow plants which contain much more artemisinin than their wild-type counterparts."
The researchers at CRAG designed transgenic plants that overexpressed the AaMYB1 gene and found that they accumulated larger doses of artemisinin than non-genetically modified plants. To confirm the role of AaMYB1 gene in trichome formation, they searched for similar genes in Arabidopsis thaliana and found the gene AtMYB61. When this gene was overexpressed in the model plant, the plant produced more trichomes.
For more details, read the article in CRAG News.
Princess Anne Says Ruling Out GM Crops Not Practical
In an interview on BBC Radio 4's Farming Today aired on March 23, 2017, Great Britain's Princess Anne has said genetically modified (GM) crops have important benefits for providing food and she would be open to growing them on her own land. She said "we have to accept" the process could help production and livestock health.
DNA Methylation Affects the Efficiency of TALEN-mediated Genome Editing in Rice
Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) are one of the most prevalent SSNs and have a potential to provide higher target specificity. However, they are sensitive to methylated cytosines that are present in transposons and active genes in plants. In mammalian cells, the methylation sensitivity of TALENs could be overcome by using a base-recognition module (N∗) with a higher affinity to methylated cytosine. However, the effectiveness of N∗ module in plants has not been explored.
Study Reveals Farming Becoming Riskier Under Climate Change
Canadian Farmers to Plant GE Potatoes for the First Time
GAIN Reports Korea's New Biotech Labeling Requirements
Pakistan's Sindh Seed Council Assesses 21 New Seed Varieties Including 6 Bt Cotton Varieties
EFSA Releases Risk Assessment of Information on Subcombination of Events of Four-trait Maize Event
Nagoya University Discovers Molecular Shoot-to-root Signal System in Nitrogen-starved Plants
Overexpression of Del Gene from Snapdragon Improves Anthocyanin Accumulation and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Tobacco
Development of Barley with Heritable Disrupted ENGase Gene via CRISPR-Cas9
GM APPROVAL UPDATES
The USA approved sugarcane event CTC91087-6 for food and feed.
The USA approved maize event DBN9858 for food and feed.
The USA approved potato event Gen2-Z6 for food and feed.
The USA approved cotton MON88702 for cultivation.
The USA approved petunia event A1-DFR for cultivation.
The USA approved maize event PY203 for cultication.
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