Spain
October 24, 2016

Iden Biotechnology announces the incorporation of Dr Francisco J.M. Mojica, world class expert in CRISPR-Cas technology, to its Advisory Panel, bringing exceptional experience and knowledge applicable to new plant breeding techniques. 

CRISPR-Cas, gives scientists the ability to more precisely modify DNA by turning genes on or off or editing DNA. They can pinpoint and remove weakness or insert desired traits already found elsewhere in the species. CRISPR/Cas9 editing techniques seem to be the most researched since they have been validated as the most cost-effective and self-customizable approach that is currently present across all gene editing tools. CRISPR system has been successfully used in several organisms and a number of plant species, there is an increasing number of related patent applications and first gene edited products have been approved for commercialization in USA (browning resisting mushroom from a research group). 

Dr Mojica holds degrees in Biology (biochemistry) by the University of Valencia, and a PhD in Biotechnology by the University of Alicante. Dr Mojica has worked with halophilic archaea resistance to abiotic stress at the Alicante University (Spain) and Paris-Sud university (France) studied bacteria physiology at Utah University (US) and gen regulation and DNA topology at Oxford University (UK). 

He founded the molecular microbiology research group in the Alicante University in 1997 where he discovered the CRISPR sequence in archaea. He performed the first documented experiments about such genetic structure, providing evidence of its activity and implication in an interference mechanism. He found out that CRISPR regions and associated Cas proteins constitute a system (CRISPR-Cas) of acquired immunity. This has led to the development with the contribution of several scientists of the CRISPR-Cas technique as a powerful tool for gene editing in any organism, from bacteria to human beings. 

We are delighted to count with Dr Mojica among our Advisory Panel, prominent scientist who shares our vision of the potential of applying this technique as a powerful biotechnological tool for crop improvement.  

Website: http://www.idenbiotechnology.com/

Published: October 24, 2016