Early-Generation Corn Protein Production via R0 Pollination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for producing pharmaceutically active proteins in plants often fail to deliver commercially useful quantities in early generations, such as R0, R1, and R2, and require the destruction of valuable seed stock for breeding and evaluation.
Innovation Solution
A method involving cross-pollination of hybrid and heterotic corn plants with pollen from R0 or R1 corn plants expressing the desired protein, followed by harvesting and isolating the protein from grain, allowing for the production of pharmaceutically active proteins in multiple generations without destroying valuable seed stock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional transformation and multi-generational breeding methods are used, then pharmaceutically active proteins can be produced in plants, but commercially useful quantities are not delivered in early generations (R0, R1, R2) and valuable seed stock must be destroyed for breeding evaluation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using R0 and R1 transgenic plants to pollinate hybrid corn plants before traditional breeding would allow protein production. This enables the pharmaceutically active protein to be produced in advance in the hybrid grain, rather than waiting through multiple generations of breeding. The R0/R1 plants serve as preliminary pollinators that transfer the transgenic trait and enable immediate protein expression in the F1 hybrid generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by having R0 and R1 transgenic plants serve as pollen donors to create F1 hybrid plants that copy the transgenic trait. Instead of destroying valuable seed stock to determine genotype or phenotype, the patent copies the desired trait through controlled pollination, allowing the original seed stock to be preserved while still achieving the breeding objective.
2Reliability
If traditional breeding methods are used to develop corn hybrids, then commercially viable protein production can be achieved, but the process requires destruction of valuable seed stock and takes multiple generations (R0 to R3 or later)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by enabling protein production in the F1 hybrid generation through R0/R1 pollination, rather than waiting for R3 or later generations. This preliminary protein expression allows commercial production to begin earlier in the breeding timeline, reducing the overall process complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the protein production function from the later breeding generations and moves it to the F1 generation. By using R0 and R1 plants to pollinate hybrids, the pharmaceutically active protein is extracted and produced in the hybrid grain itself, separating the protein production function from the traditional multi-generational breeding sequence.
3Productivity
If R0 seed is used to pollinate hybrid plants for protein production, then protein can be isolated from hybrid grain, but the method must be validated to ensure sufficient protein levels meet commercial requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by establishing validation methods that measure protein levels in the hybrid grain produced from R0 pollination. The feedback loop involves analyzing the protein content and using this information to determine whether the production system meets commercial requirements, allowing for process optimization and scaling decisions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the delivery of commercially significant quantities of pharmaceutically active proteins in early generations, such as R0, R1, and R2, without damaging seed stock, facilitating efficient protein production and breeding processes.
Implementation Method 1
cross-pollinating a first set of hybrid corn plants and a first set of heterotic inbred corn plants with pollen produced by the R0 corn plant
Implementation Method 2
isolating the pharmaceutically active protein from the grain on the hybrid plant
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides multi-generational production methods for producing pharmaceutically active proteins and other proteins in corn. The present invention also provides methods for breeding corn capable of producing pharmaceutically active proteins or other proteins.