Gene-Editing Strikes Oil: High-Yield Camelina Revolutionizes Biofuel

Scientists have increased oil production in Camelina sativa by 21.4% by gene-editing the TT8 gene, paving the way for more efficient biofuel crops.

As initiatives to reach net-zero carbon emissions from transportation fuels gain momentum, the need for oil derived from nonfood crops is on the rise. These crops harness sunlight to transform atmospheric carbon dioxide into oil, which is stored in their seeds. Crop breeders aiming to maximize oil production often favor plants with yellow seeds, as these typically yield more oil than brown-seeded varieties in oilseed crops like canola. This is due to a protein that colors the seeds brown, absent in yellow-seeded plants, which also plays a key role in oil production.