CRISPR Alters Chromosome Numbers in Plants

Researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and partners have successfully reduced the number of chromosomes in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana without affecting its growth using CRISPR-Cas9. The study, published in Science, demonstrates the first time scientists have achieved such a targeted change in plants.

The team used gene editing to fuse two chromosomes to reduce the total number from ten to eight with no adverse effects on the plant's development. The study showed that modifying the chromosome structure could influence how genes recombine during reproduction. This method is an advantage for breeders who seek to combine desirable traits more efficiently.

While plants with fewer chromosomes grew normally, crossbreeding experiments revealed that modified plants produced fewer seeds when paired with unmodified ones. The findings also revealed that the modified plants remained fertile when crossed with plants carrying the same chromosome changes. The researchers say that these findings could eventually help prevent unintended outcrossing with wild-type counterparts.

For more information, read the article from KIT.