About this Research Topic
During the last decade, CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing techniques have boomed and revolutionized the biotechnology field. The progression from the initial discovery to the precise editing by CRISPR/Cas systems has occurred at a breathtaking pace. CRISPR/Cas-mediated genetic manipulation approaches brought us closer to realizing the ultimate aspiration of being able to make any desired sequence alteration at any position within the genome. Such outstanding systems have greatly enhanced the progress in plant science research. Rice is a very important crop in the world, providing staple food for a large segment of the world population. Furthermore, rice has also been adopted as a key model system and provided a huge stage space for CRISPR/Cas research.
Despite major advances in developing different CRISPR/Cas endonuclease, engineered variants, and derived tools with broadened targeting scope and specificity, these systems have several limitations including reliance on double-strand breaks, off-target endonuclease activity, and low efficiencies for gene insertion or replacement. Therefore, these methods need to be constantly refined to further increase sensitivity and reproducibility. Additionally, to date, although vast agronomic trait genes have been identified in rice, the achievement of functional genomics research has not been well applied to rice improvement. As the bridge and link between functional genes and genetic improvement, CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing technologies have attracted more and more attention from rice scientists and breeders. These technologies provide rice researchers the needful boost and opportunity to make specific and explicit changes at exact loci and can be very well utilized for knocking out multiple genes at a time in the genome of rice.
A Research Topic with expanding the genome editing toolbox and editing rice target traits may significantly contribute to speeding up the rice breeding process. Authors are welcome to submit original articles and reviews that seek to further optimize and improve the CRISPR/Cas systems and better genetic improvement in rice by utilizing CRISPR/Cas systems.
Some potential themes of interest for this Research Topic include (but are not limited to) the following:
• Gene Editing for Basic Research in Rice.
• Versatile Tools for Genome Editing in Rice.
• Detection and Analysis Methods for Genome Editing in Rice.
• Improving CRISPR/Cas On-Target Specificity in Rice.
• Applications of CRISPR/Cas systems in rice.
Despite major advances in developing different CRISPR/Cas endonuclease, engineered variants, and derived tools with broadened targeting scope and specificity, these systems have several limitations including reliance on double-strand breaks, off-target endonuclease activity, and low efficiencies for gene insertion or replacement. Therefore, these methods need to be constantly refined to further increase sensitivity and reproducibility. Additionally, to date, although vast agronomic trait genes have been identified in rice, the achievement of functional genomics research has not been well applied to rice improvement. As the bridge and link between functional genes and genetic improvement, CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing technologies have attracted more and more attention from rice scientists and breeders. These technologies provide rice researchers the needful boost and opportunity to make specific and explicit changes at exact loci and can be very well utilized for knocking out multiple genes at a time in the genome of rice.
A Research Topic with expanding the genome editing toolbox and editing rice target traits may significantly contribute to speeding up the rice breeding process. Authors are welcome to submit original articles and reviews that seek to further optimize and improve the CRISPR/Cas systems and better genetic improvement in rice by utilizing CRISPR/Cas systems.
Some potential themes of interest for this Research Topic include (but are not limited to) the following:
• Gene Editing for Basic Research in Rice.
• Versatile Tools for Genome Editing in Rice.
• Detection and Analysis Methods for Genome Editing in Rice.
• Improving CRISPR/Cas On-Target Specificity in Rice.
• Applications of CRISPR/Cas systems in rice.
Keywords: Genome editing, Rice, Gene functions, Breeding applications, Tools
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