Move over, basic CRISPR—there’s a new gene-editing upgrade in town! Scientists from Tel Aviv University, the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Israeli agri-tech firm NetaGenomiX have teamed up to tackle one of biology’s trickiest challenges: editing *entire families* of plant genes at once. 🧬✨
Think of it like upgrading from a single app to a whole software suite. Their new algorithm creates CRISPR "libraries" that can tweak thousands of related genes simultaneously, smashing through the "genetic redundancy" roadblock that stumped earlier methods. 🚀
In a tomato-tastic experiment 🌱🍅, they tested 15,000 CRISPR units on 1,300 plants, unlocking wild changes in sweetness, shape, and disease resistance. Some fruits got sweeter; others turned into low-sugar rebels. The study, published in Nature Communications, even hints at future crops that laugh in the face of climate change. 🌍🔥
"This isn’t just about tomatoes," researchers say. Next up: applying the tech to rice and other staples to fight food insecurity. Could this be the start of a green revolution 2.0? Farmers (and foodies) better stay tuned. 👩🌾📈
