Toyota Motor Corporation Develops DNA Analysis Technology to Accelerate Crop Breeding, Shorten Timeframe.

https://www.eic.or.jp/news/?act=view&serial=37548

[Energy Biomass] [Publication date] 2016.09.27 [Information source] Company / Announced on 2016.09.23

　Toyota Motor Corporation has developed DNA analysis technology to accelerate the improvement of crop varieties. It can streamline the identification and selection of necessary genes, significantly shortening the time required for breeding, while at the same time significantly improving costs. This will lead to increased production of biofuels, increased food production, and improved disease resistance. Combining proprietary technologies, the work process of identifying and selecting useful genes can be simplified.

　With the aim of preventing global warming and other issues, Toyota is promoting bio-related businesses as well as research to improve the fuel efficiency of its vehicles. The company has applied its expertise in production management and process improvement in the automotive business to the agricultural field, developing and providing information technology (IT) management tools. At the same time, the company has been working to develop technologies to increase the production of sugarcane suitable for biofuels. The development of DNA analysis technology is part of this effort.

　Increasing crop production through breeding can be achieved by selecting and breeding parental varieties based on past breeding results, evaluating a large number of offspring over a long period of time, and selecting offspring with the desired characteristics as a new variety. In recent years, technology to predict characteristics using genetic information has made this more efficient, but there have been issues of long DNA analysis periods and high costs.

　We have utilized a technology that amplifies genetic information in thousands to tens of thousands of locations with high reproducibility while increasing the sequence of the analyzed sample by adjusting the nucleic acid fragments necessary for DNA synthesis and replication. Equipment capable of analyzing tens of millions to billions of genetic information locations at a time was also used. This enables DNA analysis in about one-tenth the time and at one-third the cost of conventional methods, and is expected to increase sugarcane production and biofuel production.

Courtesy of Nikkei BP Environmental Management Forum (EMF)

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Press Release

http://newsroom.toyota.co.jp/jp/detail/13715116

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