| Summary: | Crop genetics: CRISPR editing of multiple genes in cabbage Researchers in China have shown that the gene-editing system CRISPR/Cas9 can be used to efficiently mutate genes of interest in cabbage. Cabbage plants normally do not self-pollinate, making the use of traditional mutagens difficult. Hongyuan Song of Southwest University therefore turned to CRISPR/Cas9, a system which can introduce precise mutations into specific genes. Song’s team targeted three genes: one related to coloration, another to self-incompatibility, and a third involved in pollen development. They began by mutating each gene separately to test the system’s efficiency. Next, they built a CRISPR/Cas9 construct that would simultaneously mutate the pollen gene and the self-incompatibility gene. One-third of the plants produced using the construct had mutations in both of the target genes. These findings demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9 is a valuable tool for trait improvement and genetic research in cabbage.
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