Sangamo BioSciences Announces Publication in Nature of the Use of Zinc Finger Nucleases to Accelerate Precision Trait Stacking in Commercial Cr...( RICHMOND Calif. April 29 /- Sangamo B...)

RICHMOND, Calif., April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGMO) announced today continued success of its zinc finger DNA-binding protein (ZFP) technology. New research published in the scientific journal Nature by licensing partner Dow AgroSciences and Sangamo demonstrated the successful application of ZFP technology for the efficient generation of maize plants with multiple, commercially important traits. The techniques described are broadly applicable across plant species and traits and establish a new method for rapid and precise crop development.

In the study published in the Advance Online edition of Nature, scientists at Dow AgroSciences and Sangamo used ZFP Nucleases (ZFNs(TM)) to introduce a herbicide tolerance gene into a pre-determined address in the maize genome, simultaneously eliminating the expression of an enzyme involved in the production of phytate, a natural but undesirable compound found in feed crops and a cause of environmental pollution. In a rapid, single step process the gene involved in phytate production was disabled and permanently linked with the acquisition of herbicide tolerance - i.e. stacking the two desired characteristics in the plant and generating reduced phytate, herbicide tolerant corn.

"These data reinforce that EXZACT(TM) Precision Technology has the potential to redefine the future of agriculture driving productivity gains globally and greatly enhancing sustainability in major food crops such as maize," said Jerome Peribere, president and CEO of Dow AgroSciences. "This technology provides flexibility and versatility in plant biotechnology research enabling developers, such as Dow AgroSciences and our collaborators, to enhance the discovery and development of novel traits for the crop production industry."

"The future of crop improv
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