Biotechnology webinar discusses rDNA Technology to CRISPR/Cas - a paradigm shift towards crop improvement

The Department of Biotechnology organised a webinar on 'rDNA Technology to CRISPR/Cas: A Paradigm Shift towards Crop Improvement' on 29th August 2022. The session was conducted by Dr. Arvinder Singh, Associate Professor, Akali Department of Botany, University.

Dr. Singh discussed several genes transferring methods in rDNA technology like physical (gene gun, sonication, electroporation), chemical (calcium phosphate precipitation), and biological (using Ti-plasmid) which have been contributing to the understanding of basic plant biology and producing genetically modified/transgenic plants with improved qualities, for the last three decades.

In recent years, CRISPR/Cas technology, a gene editing system, is the preferred choice for genome modification in all types of organisms—from microbes, and plants to animals—and has countless applications in various disciplines as diverse as industries, basic research, and medicines.

One must note that Recombinant DNA technology comprises altering genetic material outside an organism to obtain enhanced and desired characteristics in living organisms or as their products. This technology involves the insertion of DNA fragments from a variety of sources, having a desirable gene sequence via an appropriate vector. CRISPR-Cas9 was adapted from a naturally occurring genome editing system that bacteria use as an immune defence. When infected with a virus, bacteria capture small pieces of the viruses' DNA and insert them into their own DNA in a particular pattern to create segments known as CRISPR arrays.

At the end of the session. the students got to solve their queries from the speaker. It was an enriching session for them. Dr. Samrat Paul, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Brainware University, was the coordinator of the session.