Precision breeding release notice (reference: PBR/26/010)
Published 8 September 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
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Information provided to the Secretary of State alongside a notice of intention to release a precision bred plant under schedule 1 of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025.
1. Name and address of the person proposing to release the precision bred plant
Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ
2. Description of others assisting in the release of the precision bred plant
Research institutes, farmers, private/public partnerships
3. General description of the precision bred plant
a) Genus and species
Brassica napus
b) Intended alterations to characteristics of the plants
Increased size of seeds
c) Types of genetic changes introduced to cause these alterations
Insertion-deletion mutations (indels) in two homologues of a plant-specific developmental growth regulator
d) Techniques of modern biotechnology used to make these genetic changes
CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology was utilised to introduce DNA edits. Guides were designed to target common regions across the two gene homologs. Constructs were created via Golden Gate cloning in Escherichia coli, transformed into Agrobacterium tumefaciens and subsequently transformed into Brassica napus via the process of tissue culture regeneration. Transformed plantlets were selected and plants were grown for several generations to identify DNA edits and ensure segregation of T-DNA cassette. The site-directed endonuclease created double stranded breaks in the plant DNA at regions specified by the guide RNAs. The breaks were repaired by non-homologous end joining to cause indels (insertions or deletions) and frameshifts in the DNA sequence, which are predicted to alter protein translation and affect gene function.
4. Confirmation: preventing marketing
The person with overall responsibility for the release must confirm they will put in place any necessary appropriate measures to prevent material from the precision bred plant being marketed until such time as a precision bred confirmation is issued in respect of the plant.
Confirmed
5. Confirmation: meeting precision breeding criteria
The person with overall responsibility for the release must confirm they have assessed that all plants covered by the release notice meet the criteria for a precision bred organism as set out in section 1 (2) of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.
Confirmed