Using genome editing technology within a systems biology approach to understand plant immunity
Posted 2nd March 2020 by Liv Sewell
Interested in systems biology, omics technology, and plant bioinformatics? Catch up with one of our speakers from the 8th Plant Genomics and Gene Editing Congress: Europe, Professor Kristina Gruden…
The human microbiome – a new frontier
Posted 26th February 2020 by Joshua Sewell
The vast majority of human-related microbiology focuses on bacteria – the human bacteriome. Frequently, the term “microbiome” is incorrectly confused with “bacteriome”. Advances in DNA sequencing and culturomics have opened the door on the human “mycobiome”, expanding interest beyond bacteria into fungal effects on multiple facets of human health.
The case for biosynthesis: 5 problems with cannabinoids derived from plant cultivation
Posted 25th February 2020 by Joshua Sewell
As we look at the current and future market demands for cannabinoid ingredients, large consumer buyers are focused on purity, consistency and stability of supply. For a host of reasons, cannabinoid suppliers will find it extraordinarily difficult to meet this demand with plant-based production systems.
Wild wheat, plant genomics, and food security
Posted 24th February 2020 by Liv Sewell
Wheat is the most widely grown crop in the world, providing 20% of the calories and proteins consumed by humankind. More than one fifth of the projected yield is lost every year to disease. Dr Brande Wulff, Group Leader at the John Innes Centre, and speaker at the 8th Plant Genomics and Gene Editing Congress, Europe, is leading research aiming to reduce the proportion of wheat lost to pathogens and increase global food security…
5 key requirements for unleashing innovation in the cannabis industry
Posted 21st February 2020 by Joshua Sewell
The cannabis industry faces a systemic problem where the legal nomenclature used to distinguish varietals of Cannabis Sativa is known to be unrelated to the genetic identity of the plant.1 Cannabis plants being bought and sold under any specific trade name can be genetically unrelated and may not even have a shared cultivation history.
Managing plant stress in the era of climate change: Realising global sustainable development goals
Posted 17th February 2020 by Liv Sewell
Dr Salme Timusk was the first to show that native soil bacteria have the ability to protect plants against drought conditions. Salme writes here about plant microbiome interaction studies: how they can facilitate plant health and contribute to solutions for climate change.
11 ways to enable more UK patients to benefit from medicinal cannabis
Posted 14th February 2020 by Joshua Sewell
Medicinal cannabis was legalised in the UK in November 2018, yet there have been fewer than ten new prescriptions made through the NHS. Most of the prescriptions made have been private, and are financially out of reach for most patients, costing up to £2000 per month.
A Universal Genetic Switch for Increasing Plant Yields, Stress Tolerance and Perishable Product Shelf Life
Posted 12th February 2020 by Joshua Sewell
Food waste is a significant problem globally and contributes to huge agricultural losses. Roughly one-third of all food is wasted: 1.3 billion tons per year. It is no surprise that the UN has a Sustainable Development Goal of cutting food waste in half by 2030.