b'GIANT VIEWSBY: JEROEN WILMER THE USES OF GENE EDITING A PERSPECTIVEsimilar to traditional mutations: genebut fundamental trait in our crop and we knock-outs for qualitative traits such ascould start breeding with this material? waxy and high-amylose starch in cere- We would remove all the genetic noise als, colour in some vegetables, as well asfrom the multiple, often less adapted, some disease resistances. With the moredonors of the alleles and could properly advanced technologies, we can createevaluate the trait in a large population more specific modifications of genes othercarrying all the various combinations of than loss of function. However, theseour selected genes. This should allow us technologies will not create new genes,to improve the genetic gain in the breed-so no equivalent of Round-up Ready her- ing process dramatically. This could pro-bicide tolerance or Bt-like insect resist- vide our best chance to advance towards ance. Generally, the traits obtained aresustainability targets set for 2030 in the likely similar to those created by alleleEU Green Deal.introgression, either from wild materialIn summary, this group of technolo-or mutagenized populations, and there isgies is unlikely to enable truly novel traits most likely little additional added value inlike GM did over 30 years ago. However, it the products beyond that already known.can become a powerful tool in introgress-Jeroen Wilmer The second angle is to see where weing simple traits in advanced or hard to can use these technologies in our pro- manipulate germplasm, as well as a way cess and if there is any added value into create large numbers of truly novel T he current discussion on Newthis area. Smart use of gene editing maycombinations of alleles drawn from less Breeding Technologies mainlyallow us to create desirable mutations inaccessible germplasm sources. In this focuses on targeted mutagenesisadapted germplasm without the long andway, it should become as important and or gene editing, more recently labelledonerous work of recurrent back-crossesas integrated in our breeding process as as New Genomic Techniques. Thisto remove unwanted other characteristicsthe use of molecular markers has done.includes technologies, such as Zinc- from the allele donor: a gain in efficiencyFor the moment, some countries Finger Nucleases (ZFN), TAL Effectorand the opportunity to add missingaccept traits created by some of these Nucleases (TALEN), CRISPR-Cas and itsalleles in our adapted germplasm pool.technologies as non-GMO and thus derivatives, and Oligonucleotide DirectedThis is where the technology will shine:non-regulated, but not other technol-Mutagenesis (ODM). All these sharebring together alleles of interest by recre- ogies, with different levels of scrutiny three elements: targeting a sequence,ating them in the appropriate germplasm.in different countries. Other areas, like inducing some form of DNA damage atThe more complex the context, the morethe EU, refuse the use of any of these that sequence and using cellular repairadvantages the technology brings. Thistechnologies outside a GMO-framework. to create a mutation. They create smallcomplexity can take two main forms,Given the limited added value I foresee, modifications in individual genes withouteither in the genetic complexity of thethe widespread use of traits created by other DNA modifications elsewhere in therecipient, or in the number of genes togene editing will probably only work if we genome, combining the type of modifica- be modified to obtain a given effect.move to a low cost, trait-based evaluation tions from traditional mutagenesis withExamples of the genetic complexityinstead of the technology-based evalua-increased precision. would be the need to get all six copiestion as currently used in Europe. The But what are the perspectives forof a gene in hexaploid wheat modified tokey to such a system is the acceptance gene editing technology? Do they meritobtain a phenotype, or the creation ofthat mutations are the same, whichever the long and difficult debate to update reg- disease resistance in vegetatively propa- the way they were created, if the final ulations, create the necessary supportinggated triploid Cavendish banana.sequence is the same. Now theres an technologies to make them truly genericThe question of number of genes toidea . and make them accessible to everyonebe modified to create the trait is currently interested in genetic improvement?the big unknown and may bring the big- Editors Note: Jeroen Wilmer is a A first approach is to look at thegest advantages for genetic improvement.Research&Technologymanager products created as these determineWhat if we would be able to create tar- in Plant Biology and was involved the potential application value. Most ofgeted mutations in twenty or thirty genesin developing business models for the initial traits being created are verythat we suspect are involved in a complexCRISPR-CAS use for a seed company.40IEUROPEAN SEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM'