Ten years ago, a new technology called CRISPR-CAS9 allowed scientists to change the genetic code of living organisms. As revolutionary as it was, the tool had its limitations. Like the first cell phones, which could only perform one function, the original CRISPR method can perform only one function: remove or replace genes in a genetic sequence.

Subsequent iterations of CRISPR were developed for another function that allowed scientists to alter the expression of genes by linking or turning them off, without removing them from the genome. But each of these functions could only be performed independently on plants.

Now, scientists at the University of Maryland's School of Agriculture and Natural Resources have developed the "CRISPR-Combo," a method for editing multiple genes in plants and simultaneously altering the expression of other genes. This new tool will allow combinations of genetic engineering to work together to improve functionality and improve the reproduction of new cultures.

"The possibilities are really limitless in terms of characteristics that can be combined," said Yiping Qi, associate professor in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture and co-author of the study. "But what's really exciting is that CRISPR-Combo presents a level of sophistication to plant genetic engineering that we didn't have before."

The benefits of manipulating more than one gene at a time can far outweigh the benefits of any isolated manipulation. For example, imagine that a pest sweeps the wheat fields, threatening farmers' livelihoods and food security. If scientists could remove a wheat gene that makes it susceptible to the pest and at the same time activate genes that shorten the plant's life cycle and increase seed production, they could produce quickly pest-resistant wheat before the disease had a chance to spread. cause a lot of damage.

Source: Agrolink