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Researchers uncover the inside story on plant organ growth

A study by John Innes Centre researchers reveals that inner tissues play a crucial role in shaping plant organs, contradicting the widespread assumption that external layers control growth. By analyzing cell division orientation and gene editing techniques, they discovered genes affecting stem thickness in Arabidopsis.

SourceJohn Innes Centre·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 8, 2026

Genomic techniques can streamline breeding for grain quality

Researchers developed a strategy to predict multiple traits at once based on the whole genome, increasing predictive ability by 2-10 times. This method, called multi-trait genomic selection (MT-GS), combines genetic markers with known trait links for more accurate predictions, making it a promising tool for efficient and cost-effective...

New study reveals episodic and gradual patterns in plant diploidization process

A recent study has revealed that the diploidization process in plants can be both episodic and gradual, depending on the type of mutation. The researchers used population genomics to uncover a nuanced picture of this process, including gene fractionation, transposable element accumulation, and homoeologous expression bias.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 27, 2025

Genetic secrets of rice pave way for future farming and conservation

Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) have discovered genes that can strengthen rice crops against environmental stresses such as heat, drought, and salinity. The study also identified a comprehensive framework for developing robust rice crops that can thrive in challenging environments.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalNature Genetics·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 28, 2025

High-yield rice breed emits up to 70% less methane

Scientists have identified chemical compounds released by rice roots that determine how much methane the plants emit. A new strain of rice was bred using traditional breeding methods, resulting in yields of 8.96 tons/hectare while emitting up to 70% less methane.

SourceCell Press·JournalMolecular Plant·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 3, 2025

Innovative use of hyperspectral data and DCGANs enhances rice protein content estimation

A study using hyperspectral data and DCGANs improves the estimation of rice grain protein content, achieving high validation accuracy and identifying genetic loci related to GPC. This approach demonstrates the potential for combining hyperspectral technology and DCGANs for efficient genetic analysis and selection of high-quality rice v...

SourceNanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science·JournalPlant Phenomics·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 7, 2024

Changes Upstream: RIPE team uses CRISPR/Cas9 to alter photosynthesis for the first time

Researchers from the University of Illinois have used CRISPR/Cas9 to alter the upstream regulatory DNA of a food crop, increasing gene expression and improving downstream photosynthesis. This approach, which does not require adding foreign DNA, has shown promising results in increasing photosynthetic activity in rice.

Fusion of a rice endogenous N-methylpurine DNA glycosylase to a plant adenine base transition editor ABE8e enables A-to-K base editing in rice plants

Researchers developed four plant-based A-to-K base editors, rAKBEs, that enable simultaneous adenine transition and transversion base editing in rice. The rAKBEs, including rAKBE03 and rAKBE04, showed improved efficiency and capacity for different editing products.

DNA barcoding identifies the plants a person has eaten

A new technique using DNA barcoding can identify the plant matter in human feces, improving clinical trials, nutrition studies and historical research. The method detected specific plant species and their relative amounts consumed, varying according to diet, age, and household income.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateJun 27, 2023

New discovery set to boost disease-resistant rice

A new gene variant, RBL1, has been identified in a type of rice that can be modified to improve performance without yield penalties. This breakthrough could lead to more disease-resistant rice crops with high yields, addressing a major threat to the industry and meeting growing global demand.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 19, 2023

Researchers uncover key codon repeats regulating chilling tolerance in rice

A recent study has revealed a novel cold domesticated repair mechanism for DNA damage in rice, providing elite modules for improving chilling tolerance. The discovery of GCG codon repeats in the first exon of COLD11, a DNA repair protein, has opened the way for fine regulation of rice chilling tolerance with a single site.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience Advances·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 6, 2023

Rice University scientists get fungi to spill their secrets

Researchers at Rice University have developed a multiplex base-editing platform that significantly improves the pace of new drug discovery by inducing fungi to produce more bioactive compounds. The technique has been deployed as a tool for mining fungal genomes for medically useful compounds, reducing research timeline by over 80%.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2023

Pusan National University researchers shed light on the early development of rice seeds

A team of scientists led by Assistant Professor Lae-Hyeon Cho identified a single mutation in the gene that codes for cytidine triphosphate synthase (CTPS), an enzyme crucial for early endosperm development. The study showed that overexpressing CTPS in genetically modified rice plants results in a larger endosperm, opening up opportuni...

SourcePusan National University·JournalPlant Biotechnology Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 23, 2021

Bioinformatics tool accurately tracks synthetic DNA

A new bioinformatics tool called PlasmidHawk has been developed by Rice University researchers to track the origin of synthetic genetic code. The tool uses a sequence alignment-based approach and was found to outperform recent deep learning approaches in lab-of-origin prediction, achieving 76% accuracy.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 26, 2021

Researchers reveal unexpected genome-wide off-target mutations caused by cytosine base editing

Researchers found that cytosine base editors (BE3 and HF1-BE3) cause unexpected genome-wide off-target mutations in rice, with single-nucleotide variants predominantly occurring in transcribed genic regions. The high frequency of these mutations suggests a need for optimization to increase the specificity of cytosine base editors.

Flood of genome data hinders efforts to ID bacteria

A recent study published in Genome Biology found that the rapid growth of genomic databases is affecting the accuracy of bacterial species identification. The research, led by Rice University scientist Todd Treangen, reveals that the imbalance in database coverage hinders the ability to quickly identify pathogens.

SourceRice University·JournalGenome Biology·DateOct 30, 2018

Genome's gyrations fit right into Rice University model

Researchers at Rice University have developed an energy landscape model that details the combination of forces driving nuclear motion in cells. The model, based on a protein folding algorithm, reveals the presence of dynamically associated domains and phase separation in chromatin segments.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 9, 2018

More rice, please: 13 rice genomes reveal ways to keep up with ever-growing population

Researchers have sequenced the genomes of 13 wild and domesticated rice species, revealing valuable genetic information for developing new, efficient, and sustainable rice varieties. The newly created genetic resource provides insights into disease resistance genes, which could help reduce pesticide use and ensure reliable rice harvests.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalNature Genetics·DateFeb 1, 2018

Chromosome organization emerges from 1-D patterns

Using computer models, researchers analyzed epigenetic marks to predict how chromosomes fold in three dimensions. By training a neural network on these marks, they were able to identify the structural types of chromatin and validate their findings with additional data.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 31, 2017