Hybrid Corn CH011203 Male Sterility Genetics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current corn breeding techniques face challenges in developing hybrid varieties that combine desirable traits such as high yield, disease resistance, and uniformity, while maintaining genetic stability and avoiding self-pollination, which limits the introduction of new genetic modifications and traits.

Innovation Solution

The development of the hybrid corn variety CH011203, which incorporates a cytoplasmic or nuclear factor for male sterility and genetic modifications conferring traits like herbicide resistance, disease resistance, and altered metabolism, using techniques like genome editing and backcrossing, along with tissue culture methods to regenerate plants with specific characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If self-pollination is allowed in corn breeding, then genetic diversity is maintained, but genetic uniformity and stability of hybrid varieties deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenetic uniformityVSAvoidgenetic diversity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the capability of self-pollination from the corn plant by introducing male sterility factors (cytoplasmic male sterility CMS or nuclear male sterility genes). This extraction of the self-pollination function ensures that the plant can only reproduce through cross-pollination, thereby maintaining genetic uniformity and stability of the hybrid variety while preventing unwanted genetic recombination that would occur with self-pollination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses male sterility factors as an intermediary mechanism to control pollination. The CMS cytoplasm or nuclear sterility genes act as mediators that prevent self-pollination by rendering the plant's own pollen non-functional, while still allowing cross-pollination from other plants. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling controlled genetic exchange without compromising genetic uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If male sterility factors are introduced to prevent self-pollination, then genetic uniformity is maintained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenetic uniformityVSAvoidbreeding system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The male sterility system is self-service in that the plant automatically prevents self-pollination through its own cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factors without requiring external intervention. The CMS cytoplasm or nuclear sterility genes inherently render the plant's pollen non-functional, eliminating the need for manual emasculation or complex mechanical prevention systems, thus reducing operational complexity despite the genetic modification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the genetic parameters of the corn plant by introducing specific cytoplasmic types (CMS) or nuclear genes that confer male sterility. This parameter change in the genetic composition fundamentally alters the plant's reproductive behavior, enabling automatic prevention of self-pollination through genetic mechanisms rather than requiring complex external control systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If genome editing and genetic modifications are used to introduce new traits, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but manufacturing precision and genetic stability may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrait diversityVSAvoidgenetic stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary action by using genome editing technologies (such as CRISPR-Cas9, TALENs, or zinc finger nucleases) to precisely modify the plant genome before breeding. This allows for targeted introduction of specific traits (herbicide resistance, disease resistance, improved yield) at predetermined genetic locations, ensuring that the modifications are precise and do not randomly disrupt other genetic functions, thus maintaining genetic stability while achieving desired adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12016299B2Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH011203
Publication Date: 2024.06.25 MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH011203. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH011203, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH011203 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH011203.