UofI researchers use CRISPR/Cas9 to improve miscanthus for bioenergy production

In Illinois, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have successfully demonstrated precision gene editing in miscanthus, a promising perennial crop for sustainable bioenergy production. Biologists edited the genomes of three miscanthus species using CRISPR/Cas9 — a far more targeted and efficient way to develop new varieties than prior methods. The results will accelerate efforts to tap the huge potential of this highly productive but genetically complex grass as a source for biofuels, renewable bioproducts, and carbon sequestration — and reduce our reliance on petroleum-based energy.