Delivering Genome Edits Through the Bayer Crop Science Trait and Germplasm Product Pipeline

Bayer Research Author

08/14/2020 Added

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A glimpse into Bayer Research with Dr. Jacqueline Benson McRoberts

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[00:00:00.560]Hi, my name is Jacqueline Benson McRoberts,
[00:00:02.760]and I'm the crop efficiency gene editing platform lead
[00:00:05.600]at the crop science division of Bayer.
[00:00:07.730]We were really excited to be invited by you,
[00:00:10.060]the National Association of Plant Breeders,
[00:00:12.120]to provide a glimpse into our
[00:00:13.820]trait and germ plasm product pipeline;
[00:00:16.220]with a specific focus on gene discovery,
[00:00:18.450]editing, precision breeding, and commercial deployment.
[00:00:21.630]Bayer is an innovation company and our team in R&D
[00:00:25.290]is using the latest science and technology
[00:00:27.430]to deliver better products to farmers
[00:00:29.290]that will help them grow healthy, safe,
[00:00:31.050]and affordable food, sustainably.
[00:00:33.460]Now, onto a bit about the process.
[00:00:36.370]Concepts for commercial products
[00:00:38.050]are driven by farmers' needs,
[00:00:39.650]and inform native and biotech discovery,
[00:00:42.240]as well as precision breeding efforts.
[00:00:44.970]Candidate gene targets are identified
[00:00:47.090]from a wide variety of sources,
[00:00:48.750]including those you are very familiar with,
[00:00:51.090]like genome mapping, association analysis,
[00:00:53.910]and scientific literature reviews.
[00:00:56.290]Additionally,
[00:00:57.123]we partner with external discovery collaborators
[00:00:59.270]who are aligned on our research focus
[00:01:01.460]and provide strong candidates with demonstrated activity
[00:01:04.340]for our internal prioritization process.
[00:01:07.570]Once we have a candidate gene identified,
[00:01:09.470]the next step is to choose the right tool.
[00:01:12.080]Breeding traits conventionally
[00:01:13.550]is an important part of our seed business
[00:01:15.330]and is currently the only approach
[00:01:17.170]used in our vegetable business.
[00:01:19.280]In our row crop business,
[00:01:20.560]a few of the key choices include
[00:01:22.310]transgenes, native traits, or edits.
[00:01:25.370]The following questions among others
[00:01:26.860]help us to narrow that choice.
[00:01:28.770]Is this gene native to the crop of interest?
[00:01:31.280]If the source is external to our crop of interest,
[00:01:33.750]we'll take the transgenic route
[00:01:35.060]to introduce these unique genetic traits.
[00:01:37.290]If it's internal, it opens the doors to genome editing,
[00:01:40.100]where we can create specific genetic variation,
[00:01:42.660]or native traits, to which we'd ask the following question.
[00:01:46.160]Is there natural variation
[00:01:47.600]for the gene of interest in our germ plasm?
[00:01:49.920]If yes, this opens the door to the possibility
[00:01:52.620]of native trait exploration.
[00:01:54.720]Once a native trait donor is found in our germ plasm,
[00:01:57.240]it can then be bred into the pipeline germ plasm.
[00:02:00.720]If we choose to go through the pipeline
[00:02:02.750]with either transgenes or edits,
[00:02:04.890]the next critical step is design of the vector,
[00:02:07.520]or desired edit, respectively.
[00:02:09.880]Should we choose to go the native trait route?
[00:02:12.160]We start a search and screen phase
[00:02:14.050]to identify a germ plasm that carries an effective allele.
[00:02:18.130]Now, let's take a deeper dive into the editing choice.
[00:02:21.640]As an advanced breeding tool,
[00:02:23.230]gene editing allows us to fully leverage
[00:02:25.580]and create genetic diversity that can be applied
[00:02:27.850]with other plant breeding techniques,
[00:02:29.410]to make incremental gains in modern agriculture.
[00:02:32.580]In order to successfully apply editing to crop improvement,
[00:02:36.200]it is important to understand the causal mechanisms
[00:02:39.160]underlying the genetic architecture
[00:02:40.810]for traits of interest, so that way,
[00:02:42.650]we know what and how to edit the target region.
[00:02:46.320]It's also critical that we have
[00:02:48.160]the right tools for the job, and actually,
[00:02:50.840]we are well-positioned to develop these tools;
[00:02:53.210]through both our internal pipeline and key collaborators
[00:02:56.220]who are focused on overcoming technical challenges
[00:02:59.080]and delivering transformative editing tools,
[00:03:01.360]like base editors, that will help us make
[00:03:04.200]precise changes for product development.
[00:03:07.180]Once the edit has been designed
[00:03:09.150]and successfully introduced into the plant genome,
[00:03:12.000]the edit proceeds through a robust testing
[00:03:14.180]and selection process.
[00:03:16.260]This evaluation process is critical,
[00:03:18.450]regardless of how the variation is being introduced,
[00:03:21.190]be it an edited, native, or transgenic trait.
[00:03:24.630]The process is focused on characterization of the allele,
[00:03:27.630]as well as agronomic and molecular assessments.
[00:03:30.670]Often, initial characterization of the trait
[00:03:32.870]is performed in a controlled environment,
[00:03:34.500]as a first look and selection step.
[00:03:36.900]When applicable,
[00:03:37.820]selection is also based on the entry
[00:03:39.820]meeting stewardship guidelines for testing in the field.
[00:03:42.890]Once in the field,
[00:03:43.880]the allele must meet performance criteria
[00:03:46.320]defined for delivering trade efficacy,
[00:03:48.650]and is also tested for overall agronomic performance
[00:03:51.600]across representative geographies and growing seasons,
[00:03:54.310]to ensure that there are no unintended phenotypes,
[00:03:57.150]and that the desired trait performs across environments.
[00:04:00.570]If the allele continues to perform,
[00:04:02.550]studies may be performed to describe the mode of action
[00:04:05.520]to support the product's global regulatory reviews.
[00:04:09.440]Once we've evaluated and selected for the final allele,
[00:04:12.660]be it a native, transgenic, or edited trait,
[00:04:15.700]the next critical step in the process
[00:04:17.850]is to integrate the trait into our elite germ plasm pool.
[00:04:21.500]There are several points in a breeding program
[00:04:23.570]where the allele of interest can be introduced
[00:04:25.670]for product development and eventually deployment.
[00:04:28.610]Clint Turnbull is going to provide us
[00:04:30.590]with an overview of the breeding program
[00:04:32.540]and we'll highlight one of the main approaches
[00:04:34.530]to introducing the traits of interest.

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Delivering Genome Edits Through the Bayer Crop Science Trait and Germplasm Product Pipeline

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