Soybean Breeding via CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Soybean breeding is complex due to self-pollination, requiring extensive intervention for cross-pollination and genetic manipulation to introduce desired traits like herbicide resistance, disease resistance, and altered oil profiles, which is time-consuming and unpredictable, with existing methods taking 8 to 12 years to develop a new variety.

Innovation Solution

The development of soybean cultivars such as CL2042637, CL2043067, CW1861137, CW2020011, EW2020081, EW2020143, EW2021033, and EW2021083, which incorporate transgenes for herbicide resistance, disease resistance, and modified fatty acid metabolism, using site-specific recombination systems for precise trait introduction and marker-assisted breeding to accelerate the breeding process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If traditional breeding methods are used to introduce desired traits, then genetic diversity is maintained, but breeding time is extended to 8-12 years and predictability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreeding timeVSAvoidpredictability of trait introduction
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical breeding methods (manual cross-pollination, selection, and crossing over multiple generations) with molecular biology techniques including CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and transgenic transformation. This substitution enables direct modification of specific genes responsible for desired traits such as herbicide resistance, disease resistance, and altered oil profiles, reducing breeding time from 8-12 years to a fraction of that time while significantly improving predictability of trait introduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of trait introduction from gradual genetic recombination through multiple generations to direct genetic modification at the molecular level. By using techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 to target specific genes and transgenic methods to introduce foreign genes, the breeding process achieves precise control over trait expression, transforming an unpredictable multi-year process into a controlled, time-efficient procedure with predictable outcomes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If extensive intervention for cross-pollination is performed, then desired traits can be introduced, but the process becomes time-consuming and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to introduce desired traitsVSAvoidbreeding process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical intervention in cross-pollination with direct molecular genetic manipulation. Instead of manually performing cross-pollination, selecting progeny, and managing genetic recombination over multiple generations, the patent uses CRISPR-Cas9 systems, RNA interference, and transgenic transformation to directly introduce desired traits. This substitution maintains the ability to introduce diverse traits while dramatically simplifying the breeding process and reducing its complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential function of trait introduction from the complex process of cross-pollination and selection. By isolating and directly modifying specific genes responsible for desired traits using molecular techniques, the patent separates the critical genetic modification step from the lengthy and complex breeding procedures, thereby maintaining adaptability while reducing process complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple desired traits are introduced through traditional breeding, then genetic diversity increases, but the breeding process becomes highly unpredictable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of traits introducedVSAvoidpredictability of breeding outcome
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the approach to introducing multiple traits from relying on natural genetic recombination during cross-pollination to using targeted molecular modification techniques. By employing CRISPR-Cas9 to edit multiple specific genes simultaneously and using transgenic methods to introduce multiple foreign genes in a controlled manner, the patent achieves the introduction of multiple desired traits with high predictability, transforming an unpredictable process into a precisely controlled procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary identification and targeting of specific genes associated with desired traits before initiating modification. By using bioinformatics analysis, genetic mapping, and marker-assisted selection to pre-identify target genes, the patent enables subsequent precise editing or introduction of multiple traits in a predictable and systematic manner, eliminating the randomness inherent in traditional breeding approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20230329180A1Soybean variety
Publication Date: 2023.10.19 SYNGENTA CROP PROTECITON AG

AI summary

The present invention is directed in part to soybean variety CL2042637, CL2043067, CW1861137, CW1861177-1, CW2020011, EW2020081, EW2020143, EW2021033, and/or EW2021083 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to soybean variety CL2042637, CL2043067, CW1861137, CW1861177-1, CW2020011, EW2020081, EW2020143, EW2021033, and/or EW2021083 and its seed, cells, germplasm, plant parts, and progeny, and methods of using CL2042637, CL2043067, CW1861137, CW1861177-1, CW2020011, EW2020081, EW2020143, EW2021033, and/or EW2021083, e.g., in a breeding program.