Spanish technique silences genes with precision

A breakthrough in plant biotechnology could transform the way we grow food. Researchers from Spain's Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), in partnership with Italian and Spanish institutions, have developed a technique called vsRNAi, which allows for the precise and rapid silencing of plant genes without altering their genome. This information comes from the Plant Biotechnology Journal, which published the results of the research validated in species such as tomato, eggplant, and Nicotiana benthamiana. The innovation uses modified viruses to transport small RNA sequences (24 nucleotides) to the target genes of plants, triggering the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism, which deactivates specific genes. This approach reduces the complexity and cost of traditional genetic silencing constructs, making the process faster, cheaper, and scalable. Among the tests conducted, the researchers silenced the CHLI gene, essential for chlorophyll biosynthesis, observing visible changes ...