Grapevines get multi-gene edits with no foreign DNA left behind
Ren C, Lin Y, Liu C, Zhang X, Liang Z
Crispr
The grapevines growing in vineyards and backyard arbors take years to breed the old-fashioned way, but this transgene-free editing approach could speed up disease resistance and flavor improvements without the plant being legally classified as genetically modified.
Grapevines are usually bred by grafting and crossing, which is slow and can take years to get right. Researchers used a precision gene-editing tool to tweak several grapevine genes at the same time, and because they didn't insert any foreign genetic material, the edited vines aren't considered genetically modified organisms under many regulations. That means faster, cleaner improvements to grape varieties people already grow and drink.
Key Findings
LbCas12a enabled simultaneous editing of multiple target genes in a single grapevine transformation event
The editing method was transgene-free, meaning no foreign DNA remained integrated in the final plant genome
This approach offers a path to grapevine improvement that may avoid regulatory classification as genetically modified
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists edited multiple grapevine genes at once using a gene-editing tool called Cas12a, without leaving any foreign DNA behind in the plant. This could speed up breeding of better wine and table grapes while avoiding the regulatory hurdles that come with traditional GMOs.
Species Mentioned
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