CROP BIOTECH UPDATE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A weekly summary of world developments in agri-biotech for developing countries, produced by the Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications SEAsiaCenter (ISAAA)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 8, 2026
In This Week’s Issue:
News
New Breeding Technologies
• New Software Tool Helps Scientists Design and Analyze Gene Regulation
• Scientists Develop Ultra-Low Asparagine Wheat Using Precision Breeding to Improve Food Safety
• Experts Develop CasY7 for Better Gene Editing of Crops
----
NEWS
----
New Breeding Technologies
NEW SOFTWARE TOOL HELPS SCIENTISTS DESIGN AND ANALYZE GENE REGULATION
A research team led by Prof. Stein Aerts from VIB (Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie) and KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) has developed a new software tool that makes it easier to study how genes are switched on and off in different cell types. The tool, called CREsted, aims to simplify the analysis and design of gene regulatory elements, known as enhancers, which control when and where genes are active.
CREsted combines several steps, including data processing, model training, interpretation, and DNA sequence design, into a single, streamlined workflow. “CREsted allows researchers to systematically study enhancer logic across biological systems, starting from cell-by-cell maps of accessible regulatory DNA and going all the way to sequence design,” said PhD student Niklas Kempynck.
The team applied CREsted on various systems, including human immune cells, cancer cell states, and zebrafish development, where designed enhancers were successfully validated. The findings of the study, published in Nature Methods, show that the tool can help scientists not only understand gene regulation but also design new DNA sequences.
For more information, read the article from VIB.
Scientists at Rothamsted Research have developed a new gene-edited wheat with dramatically reduced asparagine levels, which in turn leads to lower acrylamide formation in food products. By using precision CRISPR technology to "knock out" specific genes responsible for producing the amino acid asparagine, the team achieved a reduction in asparagine levels of up to 50% compared to conventional varieties, without a significant loss in crop yield.
The breakthrough addresses a long-standing challenge in the food industry, the natural presence of free asparagine in wheat, which converts into toxic acrylamide during high-temperature cooking processes like baking, frying, or toasting. While previous attempts to lower asparagine through traditional breeding often resulted in smaller harvests or weaker plants, this precision gene editing approach specifically targeted the asparagine synthetase-2 (TaASN2) gene, responsible for asparagine production.
The study, conducted in collaboration with partners, including Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology, Technical University of Munich, University of Reading, and Curtis Analytics Limited, compared CRISPR-edited wheat lines with conventionally mutagenised (TILLING) lines. One edited line also included a partial knockout of the related TaASN1 gene. These targeted edits reduced free asparagine in the grain by 59%, and by up to 93% in the dual-edited line, without any reduction in yield. By contrast, wheat developed using traditional TILLING methods achieved a 50% reduction in free asparagine but suffered a yield penalty of nearly 25%.
Lead researcher Dr. Navneet Kaur, from Rothamsted Research, said, “This work demonstrates the power of CRISPR technology to deliver precise, beneficial changes in crop genetics. With supportive regulatory frameworks, we can unlock significant benefits for agriculture and food systems.” Beyond industrial benefits, the ultra-low asparagine wheat represents a major step forward in public health by reducing dietary exposure to harmful contaminants. As the UK moves forward with the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act, this research provides a powerful template for how gene editing can be used to solve complex food safety issues and enhance the nutritional profile of global staple crops.
For more details, read the news release in Rothamsted Research News.
Scientists from South China Agricultural University and partners have developed a gene-editing tool called CasY7, a high-performance alternative to Cas9 nuclease that is commonly used in CRISPR gene-editing systems. Originally successful in medical trials, this "molecular scissors" has now been optimized for agriculture. By refining its structure and guidance system, researchers significantly boosted its ability to make precise changes to plant DNA.
In large-scale testing across nearly 1,000 plants, the optimized CasY7 system achieved efficiency rates of 87.7% in maize and 82.9% in rice. This makes the tool nearly three times more effective than previous industry standards. It also proved capable of multiplexing, allowing scientists to edit several traits simultaneously.
According to the researchers, CasY7 is a robust and versatile tool for major crops, including wheat, which has complex traits. By providing a more reliable and efficient way to modify plant genes, CasY7 offers a powerful new resource for developing hardier, more productive crops to meet global food demands.
Read the research article in the Journal of Integrative Plant Biology.