Effective CRISPR RNAs Selection Leads to Less Off-target Edits

Researchers from Bayer Crop Science releases the results of the first comprehensive exploration of the heritability of targeted and off-target gene edits in soybeans. The research team analyzed approximately 700 T1 plants produced from using LbCas12a constructs with CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs).

The findings, published in Plant Direct, show that around 80% of the on-target edits observed in T0 plants were inherited in the T1 generation, and  about 49% of the total observed on-target edits in T1 were not observed at T0. This indicated continuous LbCas12a activity throughout the life cycle of the plant. Furthermore, edits at off-target sites were found to exhibit lower inheritance rates compared to on-target edits, which may imply their occurrence in the later stage of the plant's lifecycle.

The results of the study confirms that efficient crRNA selection can lessen or eliminate off-target editing. Even in cases wherein potential off-target sites are predicted, plants with only the intended edits can still be identified and propagated.

Read more findings in Plant Direct.

See https://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/ged/article/default.asp?ID=20967