CRISPR-Cas9 mechanism
Guide RNA directs Cas9 enzyme to complementary genomic sequence. Cas9 creates double-strand break; cell repair introduces mutations (knockouts) or templated edits.
Applications in crop science
- Knockout susceptibility genes for disease resistance
- Reduced polyphenol oxidase to limit browning
- Modified flowering time for climate adaptation
- Oil composition changes in oilseed crops
Regulatory landscape
Some jurisdictions treat SDN-1 edits (no foreign DNA insert) differently from transgenic plants. Off-target analysis and stable inheritance studies remain essential before release.