title: Precision genetic modifications: a new era in molecular biology and crop improvement.
abstract: Recently, the use of programmable DNA-binding proteins such as ZFP/ZFNs, TALE/TALENs and CRISPR/Cas has produced unprecedented advances in gene targeting and genome editing in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. These advances allow researchers to specifically alter genes, reprogram epigenetic marks, generate site-specific deletions and potentially cure diseases. Unlike previous methods, these precision genetic modification techniques (PGMs) are specific, efficient, easy to use and economical. Here we discuss the capabilities and pitfalls of PGMs and highlight the recent, exciting applications of PGMs in molecular biology and crop genetic engineering. Further improvement of the efficiency and precision of PGM techniques will enable researchers to precisely alter gene expression and biological/chemical pathways, probe gene function, modify epigenetic marks and improve crops by increasing yield, quality and tolerance to limiting biotic and abiotic stress conditions.
authors: Plant Molecular Engineering Group, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Botany, University of Bonn, Kirschallee 1, 53115, Bonn, Germany.
authors: Franziska
authors: F
authors: Fichtner
authors: Reynel
authors: R
authors: Urrea Castellanos
authors: Bekir
authors: B
authors: Ülker
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods*; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D018745:Genome, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins