Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
09:43
Breeding by Design for Functional Rice with Genome Editing Technologies
Published on: January 3, 2025
AI-designed OpenCRISPR-1 enables efficient targeted mutagenesis and prime editing in rice
Ajay Gupta1, Rabia Ahuja1, Bo Liu1
1Division of Plant Science and Technology, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
Abiotech
|July 11, 2026
Summary
Generative AI enabled OpenCRISPR-1, an open-source genome editing tool. This system was optimized for rice, demonstrating high mutation efficiency and enabling bacterial blight resistance through precise gene editing.
Area of Science:
- Plant biotechnology
- Genome editing
- Artificial intelligence in biology
Background:
- Generative artificial intelligence (AI) advances have enabled de novo design of genome-editing nucleases.
- OpenCRISPR-1 provides an open-source alternative to existing CRISPR systems, enhancing "freedom to operate" (FTO).
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a monocot-optimized OpenCRISPR-1 genome-editing ecosystem in rice (Oryza sativa).
- To assess the efficacy of OpenCRISPR-1 for multiplexed editing and its potential for conferring disease resistance.
- To integrate an AI-designed sgRNA scaffold and engineer a prime editing system for advanced plant genome engineering.
Main Methods:
- Targeted the OsSWEET susceptibility gene family in rice calli and T0 plants.
- Performed deep sequencing to analyze the mutational landscape of OpenCRISPR-1.
- Integrated an AI-designed Open sgRNA scaffold (OpsgRNA) and engineered an OpenCRISPR-1-based prime editing system (OpenPE6c).
Main Results:
- OpenCRISPR-1 achieved robust multiplexed editing in rice with mutation frequencies up to 100%.
- The mutational landscape of OpenCRISPR-1 mirrored SpCas9, enabling predictable loss-of-function alleles for bacterial blight resistance.
- OpsgRNA maintained high editing efficacy, and OpenPE6c demonstrated precise prime editing with reduced byproducts in rice protoplasts.
Conclusions:
- OpenCRISPR-1 is a versatile, high-performance, public-access platform for advanced plant genome engineering.
- This AI-driven system facilitates precision crop breeding and offers a transparent framework for global accessibility.
- The developed ecosystem enhances genome editing capabilities in monocots, paving the way for improved crop traits.
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