Biotech Updates

Biotechnology: Targeted Gene Incorporation Becomes Reality in Cotton

November 28, 2012

Scientists at Bayer CropScience, Ghent led by Jean Broadhvest and Kathleen D'Halluin developed new cotton varieties with resistance to insects and tolerance to herbicide through an innovative method called directed nuclease editor (DNE). With this technology, selected genes can be incorporated into the cotton genome with greater accuracy.

Cotton fibers are key raw material for textile and paper industries and a valuable oil can also be extracted from cotton seed for food and feed use. The plant is sensitive to the pests and competition with weeds or drought. The new technology is thus helping design cotton that will give high yields and resilient to these stresses. Rice and soybean will also be improved using this technique.

The original news can be seen at http://www.research.bayer.com/en/straight-into-the-cotton-genome.aspx