News section
Chicago firm developing method of reliably making genetically modified seeds
Chicago, Illinois
February 3, 2004

Knight-Ridder Tribune
Jon Van, Chicago Tribune via Agnet Feb 3/04

An upstart Chicago biotech firm is, according to this story, developing a technique to make seeds that can withstand poor weather as well as produce pest-resistant crops.

The technology, developed at the University of Chicago, could be used to create plant strains with many desirable traits -- such as a corn plant that grows well in dry soil, resists pests like corn borers and also produces high-protein kernels.

Mich Hein, chief executive for Chromatin Inc., was quoted as saying, "We've been talking to large seed companies about how we can generate value by helping them get genetically modified seeds to the market faster and enabling them to use fewer plants to express their traits."

David McElroy, a vice president with Verdia Inc., a biotech firm based in Redwood City, Calif., that works on gene design was cited as saying that if it works as expected, demand for Chromatin's technology should build as seed companies find more traits they want to introduce in a single hybrid seed, adding, "Today most seeds feature two or maybe three traits. The need for this technology will be more urgent when you want more traits."

The story says that Chromatin Inc. will soon try to demonstrate the value of its technology by manipulating canola plant genes. It will then move on to other plants such as corn and cotton.

Daphne Preuss, a University of Chicago researcher who founded Chromatin, was quoted as saying, "We know this works in the cells. Now it's time to prove it works in plants."

Nathan Danielson, research manager for the National Corn Growers Association, was quoted as saying, "They're offering a unique solution to a problem that's plagued molecular biology since its inception. When you put genes in new tissue with standard techniques, it's a grab bag what type of expression you'll get. So, instead of transforming 100 plants, you have to do hundreds or thousands of plants to find the first parent that gives reasonable expression. We believe Cromatin's technology will allow these genes to be put into a stable environment."

Chicago Tribune via Agnet Feb 3/04

Other news re. Chromatin Inc.

7647

Back to main news page

The news release or news item on this page is copyright © 2004 by the organization where it originated.
The content of the SeedQuest website is copyright © 1992-2004 by
SeedQuest - All rights reserved
Fair Use Notice