Epigenetics Research Could Lead to More Resilient Crops

Biologist Steve Jacobsen from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is conducting a  research that has a potential to have a significant impact on the improvement of crops. 

Jacobsen specializes in plant epigenetics, and is a cofounder of  the company Inari, which has licensed plant breeding patents he developed at UCLA.  Jacobsen's work descibes the inner workings of epigenetic pathways in plants, and the tools that allow for precise changes in gene expression through modulation of epigenetics. One of his research focused on various proteins in the plant Arabidopsis, and how they can be used to target DNA methylation. His research team explains in detail exactly how specific biological pathways work.

Jacobsen's agreement with Inari provides the company new ways to improve plant performance by tapping natural genetic diversity, and provides access to technology that influences a plant's genes without altering its genetic code.

For more details, read the news article in the UCLA Newsroom.