Deliberate engineering of mutations to predetermined sites in plant genes is made possible by a technique being exploited by the company Cibus. There are several different posts about this company Cibus at GMO Pundit. The interesting thing about this technique is that it leaves no trace behind after is being carried out except the desired alteration, which is equivalent to a natural mutation that can occur when DNA is damaged or mistaken DNA replication occurs to alters the letters in the genetic alphabet. Thus the end result is the same as if a plant has been selected from the field as a natural genetic mutation.
Some people argue that this means that engineered plants from Cibus made by deliberate engineering of mutations should not be subjected to the same regulations that are imposed on transgenic plants.
BIOTECH, AGRICULTURE, INNOVATION
Agricultural Biotech Cibus Expanding as Launch of First Enhanced Crop Nears
Bruce V. Bigelow 10/27/10
[Corrected 10/28/10, 9:45 am. See below.] San Diego-based Cibus Global held an open house last night at the company’s new headquarters, which gave me an opportunity to get an update from CEO Keith Walker on the agricultural biotech’s growth spurt since last year.
The startup, which officially spun out of Pennsylvania-based ValiGen in late 2001, is marking the commercial introduction of its first enhanced crop—an herbicide-resistant strain of canola—in coming weeks. Cibus also plans to expand its workforce, from 52 to 60 employees by the start of 2011, and has moved its headquarters into a refurbished leased facility once occupied by La Jolla Pharmaceuticals. The impressive, platinum LEED-certified space might even mark the beginning of a tech resurgence among the vacancies that pockmark Sorrento Valley’s Nancy Ridge Drive…continues at link
Nice! I just interviewed with Cibus for a scientist position. They’re doing really cool stuff! Not sure if I would want to move to San Diego, but we’ll see 🙂