Plants on demand genome editing for plant improvement

Abstract

The plants we eat are the outcome of a humans’ long history of domestication of wild species. The introduction of CRISPR/Cas gene-editing technology has provided a new approach to crop improvement and offers an interesting range of possibilities for obtaining varieties with new and healthier characteristics. The technology is based on two fundamental pillars: on the one hand, knowing complete genome sequences, and on the other, identifying gene functions. In less than a decade, the prospect of being able to design plants on demand is now no longer a dream, but a real possibility.