Meiotic Recombination Modulation via Chemical Compounds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for modifying meiotic recombination in plants are either costly and labor-intensive, such as screening large populations, or face consumer acceptance issues due to genetic engineering.

Innovation Solution

Applying compounds that modulate meiotic recombination to plants, thereby modifying meiotic recombination, reducing linkage drag, increasing recombination in cold regions of the genome, and reducing the number of backcross generations in plant breeding methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If breeders screen large populations to identify individuals with desired traits, then desirable traits can be separated from undesirable ones, but the process becomes expensive, laborious, and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrait separation accuracyVSAvoidbreeding efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies chemical compounds (such as benzimidazole derivatives, coumarins, or flavonoids) to modify the meiotic recombination rate parameter in plants. By changing the biochemical parameter of recombination frequency through compound treatment, breeders can achieve better trait separation without screening large populations, thus resolving the contradiction between separation accuracy and breeding efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If genetic engineering is used to influence genes regulating meiotic recombination, then recombination can be modified, but consumer acceptance issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreeding efficiencyVSAvoidconsumer acceptance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses chemical compounds as intermediaries to modulate meiotic recombination rather than directly modifying genes. These compounds (such as histone deacetylase inhibitors or DNA methyltransferase inhibitors) act as mediators that temporarily influence recombination rates during meiosis without creating transgenic organisms, thus maintaining consumer acceptance while achieving improved breeding efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If meiotic recombination rate is increased to reduce linkage drag, then desirable traits can be separated more effectively, but recombination in cold regions of the genome remains limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelinkage drag reductionVSAvoidgenome-wide recombination coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs compounds with multiple mechanisms of action that can affect recombination across different genome regions. These compounds may simultaneously influence multiple pathways (such as both crossover and non-crossover events, or affect multiple chromosomal regions), providing universal enhancement of recombination throughout the genome including cold regions, thereby resolving the contradiction between linkage drag reduction and genome-wide coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250160275A1Compounds for modifying meiotic recombination and methods relating thereto
Publication Date: 2025.05.22 THE UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL

AI summary

Described herein are compounds for modifying meiotic recombination in a plant. In addition, described herein are methods of modifying meiotic recombination in a plant, including methods that can reduce linkage drag in a plant, increase recombination in a cold region of the genome of a plant, and/or reduce the number of backcross generations in a plant breeding method.