CSIRO releases gene silencing tools

Molecular tools for identifying the function of thousands of genes quickly and accurately will promote major advances in biotechnology and agriculture according to CSIRO researchers. Released by CSIRO Plant Industry, the tools - called gene-silencing vectors - allow high-throughput and highly efficient gene silencing.

"Scientists can now accurately and rapidly identify the function of single genes or specific groups of genes from tens of thousands of genes in an organism," says Dr Jim Peacock, CSIRO Plant Industry Chief.

The vectors were developed to use with CSIRO's gene silencing technology and are available free-of-charge to not-for-profit organisations for research use. Gene silencing technology - also called RNA interference (RNAi) - is now used internationally to study whole genomes by 'switching off' selected genes.

"As well as the speed of analysis, these vectors provide nearly 100 per cent efficiency in 'switching off' any gene under investigation. This means the effect of a gene in an organism can be determined confidently, and once its function is known we can decide how to use this information. In the case of plants, we could breed agronomically useful genes - like those for disease resistance - into crops and pastures."

RNA interference was conceived and developed at CSIRO Plant Industry in 1994, and has potential application in medical, veterinary and agricultural areas.

"This technology has generated tremendous interest in the research community with many requests already to use the vectors," says Dr Peacock.

Item provided courtesy of CSIRO