Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
November 1st, 2010

BASF Plant Science and Precision BioSciences Inc., announced today that they have entered into a collaborative agreement to create site-specific genome modifications in plants. The agreement provides BASF Plant Science with non-exclusive access to aspects of Precision BioSciences’ proprietary Directed Nuclease Editor™ (DNE) technology, which can be used to develop advanced agricultural products.

Precision BioSciences’ industry-leading DNE technology uses advanced protein engineering methods to produce rationally designed enzymes which have the ability to modify single, unique sites within a large genome. Using DNE technology, scientists can remove or insert multiple genes at a single site within a plant chromosome, thereby efficiently and precisely conferring desirable traits into plant species. This technology can thus streamline the trait development and breeding processes, and potentially accelerate a trait’s time to market.

“We are excited to announce this cooperation with BASF Plant Science, a leading force within global plant agriculture,” said Jeff Smith, Chief Science Officer at Precision BioSciences. “We are looking forward to a productive relationship with BASF Plant Science to develop novel products utilizing Precision BioSciences’ DNE technology.”

Precision's mission is to utilize its engineered endonuclease technology to become the world leader in the field of genomic molecular biology. Precision’s proprietary Directed Nuclease EditorTM (DNE) technology enables the production of custom genome editing enzymes that can insert, remove, modify, and regulate essentially any gene in mammalian or plant cells. Precision BioSciences has already produced hundreds of custom endonucleases for partners and internal development that can precisely alter naturally occurring sequences within genomes. Precision has successfully partnered its DNE technology with several of the world’s largest agbiotech firms and is internally developing applications in biological production and human therapeutics.

Website: http://www.basf.de

Published: November 1, 2010