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CHIC scientists and artists meeting at Keygene
Scientists and artists meet at KeyGene -an independent biotechnology company- in Wageningen, last week.
The CHIC project aimed at implementing New Plant Breeding Techniques in chicory, in order to establish it as a multipurpose crop for sustainable molecular farming of products with consumer benefits. Chicory contains many healthy substances which can, for example, slow down the growth of fungi and bacteria. The crop is very difficult to breed using the current technologies, breeding, and selection, and it is also hard to increase production of the healthy components. New breeding techniques such as CRISPR-Cas can be used to develop new chicory varieties, which contain more fibers and components suitable for medicinal applications.
New approach
CHIC aims to implement innovative communication tools, including cultural communication and linking art to science, to improve understanding of New Plant Breeding Techniques by the public and for informed decision making.
Learn more: http://chicproject.eu/what-is-chic/
More news about this project:
CHIC project at European Researchers’ Night in Madrid (Spain)
The European Researchers’ Night is a Marie Sklodowska Curie (MSCA) action, under the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020. It consists of a pan-European event taking place on the last Friday night of September.
What is CRISPR?
CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaces Short Palindrome Repeats. The gene editing tool makes it easier for scientists to edit DNA strands that are cancerous or malignant.
FDA confirms dietary fiber status of inulin
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes inulin-type fructans derived from chicory root as dietary fiber for the new nutrition facts label.