Instrumentation for Plant Transformation and Genome Editing Research at Innovative Genomics Institute
zoom link https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/97341258188
Abstract: The Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) at University of California-Berkeley originally began as the Innovative Genomics Initiative in 2014 and officially re-launched in January 2017. The Institute’s research is focused on four key CRISPR-related programs: (1) human health, (2) climate and sustainable agriculture, (3) advancing genome engineering and (4) public impact. The mission of the IGI is to develop and deploy genome engineering to cure diseases, ensure food security, and sustain the environment for current and future generations. The IGI launched the Plant Genomics and Transformation Facility (PGTF) in November 2016 to facilitate progress in agriculture research. The goal of the PGTF is to (1) establish and develop enabling technologies for CRISPR-Cas9 applications in target crop species, (2) generate events using genome editing of target traits in major crop species, (3) collaborate with other PIs/researchers and (4) perform research on seed quality improvement via genome editing. Biolistics and Agrobacterium are essential tools for plant genetic transformation. The current presentation will cover instrumentation for plant transformation and genome editing research at IGI PGTF using a variety of equipment including the following two: the Bio-Rad PDS-1000 He biolistic device (gene gun) to deliver plasmid DNA and Cas9/gRNA ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs) into plant cells and the Leica M165 FC fluorescence dissecting stereo microscope to observe the expression of visual markers in plant cells.
Short bio:
Myeong-Je Cho, PhD
Director/Principal Investigator of Plant Genomics and Transformation Facility, Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI), University of California-Berkeley, USA
Dr. Cho obtained a B.S. and M.S. in Agronomy from Seoul National University. He received his Ph.D. in Agronomy (Soybean Physiology and Biochemistry) from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1991 and did a postdoctoral study on Soybean Transformation/Molecular Biology at the same University. Later he worked as a Specialist on Cereal Transformation and Gene Expression at University of California-Berkeley.
In 2001 Dr. Cho joined a biotech company, Byotix, Inc. in Richmond, CA, as a cofounder and VP to lead the Plant Biotechnology and Genomics Programs. In 2004 he worked as a Research Scientist/Manager at DuPont-Pioneer for 11 years. Dr. Cho worked as a Scientific Advisor/Consultant for several biotech companies and research institutes to help with technology/product development. He also served as an Honorary Scientist in Rural Development Administration for 8 years in S. Korea and as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Plant Science at Seoul National University for 2 years.
Dr. Cho joined IGI at UC-Berkeley in 2016 and is currently the Director and PI of the Plant Genomics and Transformation Facility. He also serves as a Scientific Advisor at Verinomics, Inc. and as an Adjunct Professor at Jeju National University, S. Korea. He published numerous papers regarding plant tissue culture/transformation, gene expression and genome editing. He has 13 US patents issued and 10 pending.
