PROBLEM
Traditional Agrobacterium strains deliver transfer DNA, or T-DNA, into plants, including crops. This can create a plant that expresses traits, such as improved drought resistance or better nutritional content, that are valued by growers and can be useful to industry. However, T-DNA is permanently integrated into the plant genome, creating plants labeled “transgenic.” Transgenic plants can be either highly regulated or outlawed.
SOLUTION
Purdue University biologists have developed Agrobacterium strains that deliver T-DNA so plants can still be modified to express valued traits, but they are not transgenic. The T-DNA is eventually destroyed by nucleases – naturally existing enzymes that degrade DNA – or it is “diluted” out of the plant nuclei as the cells divide.
PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR
Stanton Gelvin, the Edwin Umbarger Distinguished Professor of Biology in the Department of Biological Sciences, and Lan-Ying Lee, research scientist.
IN THE MEDIA
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LICENSING CONTACTS
Email: otcip@prf.org
MEDIA CONTACT
Email: Steve Martin // sgmartin@prf.org
QUOTE
“This technology developed by Dr. Gelvin and Dr. Lee can benefit tremendously plant biotechnology on a research and commercial scale. It also optimizes the timeline for plant transformation by not requiring a crossover to remove the T-DNA and simplifying regulatory implications. This is a huge advancement on Agrobacterium technology for plant transformation” – Raquel Peron, Licensing Analyst – Life Sciences