Uncovering the Power of Gene Editing in Plant Agriculture

Researchers from Tel Aviv University have developed a genome-scale technology that uses CRISPR for gene editing and bioinformatics to locate genes responsible for specific traits in plants. The method overcomes the problem of genetic redundancy, which has limited the application of genetic editing technologies to agriculture. The development is expected to revolutionize the way agricultural crops are improved as it can be applied to most crops and agricultural traits, such as increased yield and resistance to drought or pests. The researchers managed to isolate and identify dozens of new features that had been overlooked until now.