Cited by 870CRISPR and Genetic EngineeringGenetically Modified Organisms ResearchPlant Molecular Biology Research

Applications of CRISPR–Cas in agriculture and plant biotechnology

Zhu, Haocheng, Li, Chao, Gao, Caixia·2020·Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

Abstract

The prokaryote-derived CRISPR-Cas genome editing technology has altered plant molecular biology beyond all expectations. Characterized by robustness and high target specificity and programmability, CRISPR-Cas allows precise genetic manipulation of crop species, which provides the opportunity to create germplasms with beneficial traits and to develop novel, more sustainable agricultural systems. Furthermore, the numerous emerging biotechnologies based on CRISPR-Cas platforms have expanded the toolbox of fundamental research and plant synthetic biology. In this Review, we first briefly describe gene editing by CRISPR-Cas, focusing on the newest, precise gene editing technologies such as base editing and prime editing. We then discuss the most important applications of CRISPR-Cas in increasing plant yield, quality, disease resistance and herbicide resistance, breeding and accelerated domestication. We also highlight the most recent breakthroughs in CRISPR-Cas-related plant biotechnologies, including CRISPR-Cas reagent delivery, gene regulation, multiplexed gene editing and mutagenesis and directed evolution technologies. Finally, we discuss prospective applications of this game-changing technology.

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Crossref · 10.1038/s41580-020-00288-9

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172 of 172 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Authors
Zhu, H., Li, C., & Gao, C.
Affiliations
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
Corresponding author
Gao, Caixia
Venue
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
Published
2020-09-24
Volume
21
Issue
11
Pages
661-677
ISSN
  • 1471-0072 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0080
OpenAlex
W3088092039
Cited by
870
References
172
Citations by year
2026: 109 · 2025: 152 · 2024: 155 · 2023: 139 · 2022: 176 · 2021: 130 · 2020: 7
FWCI
10.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Genetically Modified Organisms Research
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Plant Molecular Biology Research
Keywords
CRISPR-Cas, genome editing, plant biotechnology, crop improvement, plant yield, plant disease resistance, herbicide resistance, base editing, prime editing, gene expression regulation, multiplexed gene editing, mutagenesis, directed evolution, plant synthetic biology

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