• OVPR

    The Office of the Vice President for Research facilitates collaborative research opportunities, streamlines related policies and procedures, and acts as a unified voice for U of I research.

  • UIC OTM

    The Office of Technology Management at Chicago is responsible for managing the intellectual property generated by research and educational activities at the University.

  • UIC Research Center

    Supplies a fully-equipped infrastructure and access to University resources, internship programs, world-class talent, and custom-designed business development services.

  • UI Research Park

    Provides an ideal environment for starting a high-growth technology venture, with wet-chemistry labs, office space, an array of shared equipment, server co-location facilities, and conference rooms.

  • IllinoisVENTURES

    IllinoisVENTURES is a seed and early-stage technology investment firm focused on research-derived companies in information technologies, physical sciences and life sciences, with a particular emphasis on those deriving from research conducted at the University of Illinois and other regional research institutions and federal laboratories.

Office of Technology Management, Urbana-Champaign

Illinois and BIOCERES Announce Licensing Agreement of Herbicide Resistant Gene

The University of Illinois and BIOCERES have entered into a licensing agreement regarding the novel gene of amaranthus tuberculatus, or waterhemp plants, in coding resistance to herbicides.

The genetic sequence from the waterhemp plant enables the creation of new breeds of soybeans and alfalfa with in-seed resistance to herbicides that inhibit protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO). PPO is an enzyme in plants directly related to photosynthesis. When PPO is inhibited, plants cannot perform photosynthesis and perish.

The Herbicide Resistant Gene will be incorporated into crops for resistance from herbicide used to kill weeds and other plants through the PPO pathway. The resistance in these crops utilizes a different pathway from currently available crops, and will provide farmers in the United States with an alternative of herbicide resistant crops.

The Herbicide Resistant Gene was developed in the laboratory of Professor Tranel, who is in the Crop Sciences Department at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.

About BIOCERES

Bioceres is an investment company focused on the creation, management and funding of companies and projects related to the development of technologies, products and knowledge on agro-biotech and related sciences. It is formed by more than 200 shareholders, most of them leading players in the agro-industrial sector. Among other ventures, Bioceres is a major shareholder of INDEAR (Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology of Rosario) and Bioceres Semillas, a company from the group that commercializes its crop technology via a diverse seeds lineup.

 

Published Wednesday, Jan 4

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