Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 24, 2026

Genetic Engineering of an Unconventional Yeast for Renewable Biofuel and Biochemical Production
Published on: September 20, 2016
Mutation of YL Results in a Yellow Leaf with Chloroplast RNA Editing Defect in Soybean
Xiaowei Zhu1,2, Yi Pan1, Zhi Liu1
1State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Abstract:
RNA editing plays a key role in organelle gene expression. Little is known about how RNA editing factors influence soybean plant development. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a soybean yl (yellow leaf) mutant. The yl plants showed decreased chlorophyll accumulation, lower PS II activity, an impaired net photosynthesis rate, and an altered chloroplast ultrastructure. Fine mapping of YL uncovered a point mutation in Glyma.20G187000, which encodes a chloroplast-localized protein homologous to Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) ORRM1. YL is mainly expressed in trifoliate leaves, and its deficiency affects the editing of multiple chloroplast RNA sites, leading to inferior photosynthesis in soybean. Taken together, these results demonstrate the importance of the soybean YL protein in chloroplast RNA editing and photosynthesis.
Related Concept Videos
Monohybrid Crosses
Dihybrid Crosses
Mutations
RNA Editing
Trihybrid Crosses
Some of Mendel’s crosses examined three pairs of contrasting characteristics. Such a cross is called a trihybrid cross. A trihybrid cross is a combination of three individual monohybrid crosses. For example, plant height (tall vs. short), seed shape (round vs. wrinkled), and seed color (yellow vs. green).
The F1 generation plants of a trihybrid cross are heterozygous for all three traits and produce eight gametes. Upon self-fertilization, these gametes have an equal chance to...
Lethal Alleles
Lucien Cuénot discovered lethal alleles in 1905 while studying the inheritance of coat color in mice. The agouti gene is responsible for the color of the coat in mice. This gene codes for an agouti-signaling protein, which is responsible for melanin distribution in mammals. The wild-type allele gives rise to gray-brown coat color in mice, while the mutant allele gives rise to yellow coat color. In addition to coat color, the agouti gene is associated with the yellow...

