Chromatin Secures $2.7 Million in ATP/NIH Grants to Develop Mini-Chromosome Technology; Technology Overcomes Barrier to the Introduction of Multiple Genes Into Plants.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers BIOWIRE2K CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2003 Enables Improved Crops for Pharmaceutical, Agricultural, Industrial Products Chromatin chromatin: see chromosome. , Inc. announced today that it received $2.7 million dollars in grants from the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST (National Institute of Standards & Technology, Washington, DC, www.nist.gov) The standards-defining agency of the U.S. government, formerly the National Bureau of Standards. It is one of three agencies that fall under the Technology Administration (www.technology. ) Advanced Technology Program (ATP ATP: see adenosine triphosphate. ATP in full adenosine triphosphate Organic compound, substrate in many enzyme-catalyzed reactions (see catalysis) in the cells of animals, plants, and microorganisms. ) and the National Institutes of Health to develop mini-chromosomes, the first technology to enable simultaneous introduction of multiple genes into plants. The grants, totaling $1.9 million from the ATP and $800,000 from the NIH "Not invented here." See digispeak. NIH - The United States National Institutes of Health. , will be used to advance Chromatin's technology focusing on improved crops for agricultural, industrial and pharmaceutical products. Chromatin's proprietary multi-gene mini-chromosomes (MGMs) techniques can rapidly generate multi-gene clusters designed to ensure stable and consistent gene expression in plant cells. MGMs could decrease time to market for engineered plants by 50 percent and increase crop yields by 25 percent. "These grants validate our science and will help us develop our technology in commercial crops," said Mich Hein, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Chromatin. "The goal is to eliminate one of the most serious barriers to the widespread, safe development of genetically modified genetically modified Adjective (of an organism) having DNA which has been altered for the purpose of improvement or correction of defects genetically modified genetic adj [food etc] → crops for better food, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and other important products." By enabling the flexible and efficient introduction of large numbers of genes, including entire biosynthetic bi·o·syn·the·sis n. Formation of a chemical compound by a living organism. Also called biogenesis. bi pathways, into plants, MGMs serve as reliable genetic vehicles for engineering new crop varieties that have multiple advantageous traits. The pace of crop improvement through biotechnology is currently hindered severely because a successful method for the controlled introduction of a large number of genes simultaneously does not exist. Chromatin's technology effectively addresses this problem, and the successful development of MGMs could lead to engineered crops having improved properties, such as resistance to disease, greater salt and drought tolerance Drought tolerance refers to the degree to which a plant is adapted to arid or drought conditions. Desiccation tolerance is an extreme degree of drought tolerance.[1] Plants naturally adapted to dry conditions are called xerophytes. , and more nutritional value. Furthermore, MGMs could reduce saturated fats in some plants with resulting health benefits, potentially lowering cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease Disease that affects the heart and blood vessels. Mentioned in: Lipoproteins Test cardiovascular disease . MGMs also could allow chemical and pharmaceutical companies to use crops as cost-effective and environmentally friendly Environmentally friendly, also referred to as nature friendly, is a term used to refer to goods and services considered to inflict minimal harm on the environment.[1] means for producing industrial and consumer chemicals, food additives, and pharmaceuticals. Chromatin is currently in discussion with several pharmaceutical and agricultural biotechnology companies to negotiate commercial targets for the application of the company's technology. Chromatin will use the ATP funding to conduct the research and development needed to validate mini-chromosomes as effective vehicles for delivering multiple genes. The principal investigator is Helge Zieler, Ph.D. The company will use the NIH grant to develop a rapid, cost-effective and high throughput mini-chromosome system that tests centromere centromere Structure in a chromosome that holds together the two chromatids. It is the point of attachment to the structure that pulls the chromatids to opposite ends of the cell during cell division (see mitosis). sequence function in cell, tissues and whole organisms. The principal investigator for this work is Jennifer Mach, Ph.D. Headquartered in Chicago, Chromatin was founded in 2000, based on technology developed in the laboratory of Daphne Preuss, Ph.D., and her colleagues at the University of Chicago. About Chromatin Chromatin, Inc., develops and markets novel proprietary technology that enables entire chromosomes to be designed and incorporated into plant cells. These engineered chromosomes make it possible for the first time to simultaneously introduce multiple genes into a plant cell while maintaining precise control of gene expression. Chromatin is employing these new genetic tools to design and market products that confer commercially valuable traits in plants, including improved nutritional and health characteristics, and can be used for industrial, agricultural and pharmaceutical product development. For more information go to www.chromatininc.com. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion