Soybean ELL0041 Breeding via Molecular Marker Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Soybean breeding faces challenges in predicting phenotypic expression due to genetic complexity and environmental factors, making it difficult to replicate stable, high-yielding varieties, and limiting breeders' ability to breed the same variety twice using the same parents and methodology.

Innovation Solution

The development of soybean variety ELL0041, which includes a transgene conferring herbicide resistance and other desirable traits, along with methods for producing hybrid seeds and plants through selfing, backcrosses, and genetic transformation, allowing for the creation of regenerable cells for tissue culture and introduction of genes for resistance, nutritional enhancement, and industrial usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional breeding methods are used to develop soybean varieties, then breeders can select and develop plants with desired traits, but the phenotypic expression cannot be predicted due to genetic complexity and environmental factors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprediction accuracy of phenotypic expressionVSAvoidgenetic complexity and environmental factors
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional phenotypic selection methods with molecular marker-assisted selection. By using DNA markers linked to desired traits, breeders can directly assess genotype at the molecular level, substituting the complex phenotypic observation process with precise molecular detection. This enables accurate prediction of phenotypic expression regardless of environmental factors.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces molecular markers as an intermediary between genotype and phenotype. These markers serve as detectable indicators that correlate with specific traits, allowing breeders to indirectly assess genetic composition and predict phenotypic outcomes without being affected by environmental variability in phenotypic expression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If breeders apply selection skills on phenotype only, then breeding process can be simplified, but the ability to breed the same variety twice using the same parents and methodology is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of breeding processVSAvoidreproducibility of variety breeding
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces phenotypic selection with genotypic selection using molecular markers. This substitution maintains procedural simplicity while dramatically improving reproducibility, as molecular markers provide objective, environment-independent measurements of genetic composition, enabling consistent variety development across different breeding cycles.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements molecular marker-based feedback mechanisms that provide real-time information on genetic composition during the breeding process. This feedback system allows breeders to make informed selections based on actual genetic makeup rather than phenotypic appearance, ensuring consistent reproduction of desired varieties through precise tracking of inheritance patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If new varieties are bred through traditional methods, then each variety contains a unique combination of characteristics, but the breeding result is an unexpected outcome that cannot be replicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniqueness of variety characteristicsVSAvoidpredictability and replicability of breeding results
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses molecular markers as intermediaries to decode the relationship between genotype and phenotype. This allows breeders to understand and predict the unique combination of characteristics in each variety while maintaining the ability to replicate successful varieties, as the markers reveal the underlying genetic architecture that produces observed traits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

By replacing phenotypic observation with molecular marker analysis, the patent enables precise tracking and prediction of trait inheritance. This substitution allows breeders to deliberately recreate successful variety combinations while still generating new unique varieties through controlled recombination of known genetic elements.

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

Data Source

PatentUS9516830B1Soybean variety ELL0041
Publication Date: 2016.12.13 BASF AGRICULTURAL SOLUTIONS US LLC

AI summary

The soybean variety ELL0041 is disclosed. The invention relates to seeds, plants, plant cells, plant tissue, harvested products and soybean lint as well as to hybrid soybean plants and seeds obtained by repeatedly crossing plants of variety ELL0041 with other plants. The invention also relates to plants and varieties produced by the method of essential derivation from plants of ELL0041 and to plants of ELL0041 reproduced by vegetative methods, including but not limited to tissue culture of regenerable cells or tissue from ELL0041.