Knockout moss

A knockout moss is a moss plant in which one or more specific genes are deleted or inactivated ("knocked out") by gene targeting. After deletion of a gene, the knockout moss has lost the trait encoded by this gene. Thus, the function of this gene can be inferred. This scientific approach is called reverse genetics as the scientist wants to unravel the function of a specific gene. In classical genetics the scientist starts with a phenotype of interest and searches for the gene that causes this phenotype. Knockout mosses are relevant for basic research in biology as well as in biotechnology.

The targeted deletion or alteration of genes relies on the integration of a DNA strand at a specific and predictable position into the genome of the host cell. This DNA strand must be engineered in such a way that both ends are identical to this specific gene locus. This is a prerequisite for being efficiently integrated via homologous recombination (HR). Basically, a knockout mouse is engineered in the same way. So far, this method of gene targeting in land plants has been carried out in the mosses Physcomitrella patens and Ceratodon purpureus, since in these non-seed plant species the efficiency of HR is several orders of magnitude higher than in seed plants.

Knockout mosses are stored at and distributed by a specialized Biobank, the .

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