Modulating Plant Growth via Isolated Nucleic Acid Molecules
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for improving plant growth and crop characteristics are time-consuming and labor-intensive, and existing molecular genetics approaches are not universally applicable across different environmental conditions, limiting their effectiveness in maximizing crop benefits.
Innovation Solution
The use of isolated nucleic acid molecules and their encoded polypeptides to modulate plant traits such as size, growth, architecture, biomass, and stress tolerance by introducing recombinant DNA molecules into plants, allowing for the creation of transgenic plants with specific phenotypic and growth characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional plant breeding methods are used to improve crop characteristics, then plant traits can be modified, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical breeding methods (crossing, selection, and propagation) with molecular genetics approaches. Specifically, it uses recombinant DNA technology to directly introduce desired traits through transformation, bypassing the time-consuming processes of traditional breeding. The isolation and characterization of specific nucleic acid sequences enable direct genetic modification rather than relying on random mutation and selection over multiple generations.
2Productivity
If molecular genetics approaches are used to manipulate plant growth, then crop performance can be improved, but the methods are not universally applicable across different environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies and characterizes nucleic acid sequences that encode proteins with fundamental growth-regulatory functions that are conserved across different plant species and environmental conditions. By targeting these universal molecular mechanisms, the invention creates transformation methods and compositions that can be applied broadly across diverse agricultural systems and environments, rather than being species-specific or condition-limited.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional breeding programs are designed for each plant species, then species-specific improvements can be achieved, but the process becomes labor-intensive and requires specialized programs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates specific nucleic acid sequences that control key growth and developmental traits, separating these genetic determinants from the complex background of species-specific breeding requirements. By identifying and manipulating these discrete molecular targets, the invention simplifies the improvement process across species while maintaining the ability to achieve species-specific trait modifications through standardized molecular techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules and their corresponding encoded polypeptides able confer the trait of modulated plant size, vegetative growth, organ number, plant architecture, sterility or seedling lethality in plants. The present invention further relates to the use of these nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides in making transgenic plants, plant cells, plant materials or seeds of a plant having such modulated growth or phenotype characteristics that are altered with respect to wild type plants grown under similar conditions.