The invention provides for systems, methods, and compositions for targeting nucleic acids. In particular, the invention provides non-naturally occurring or engineered DNA or RNA-targeting systems comprising a novel DNA or RNA-targeting CRISPR effector protein and at least one targeting nucleic acid component like a guide RNA.

The present invention relates to a composition for genome editing using a CRISPR/Cpf1 system and a use thereof and, more particularly, to a composition for genome editing comprising: a CRISPR RNA (crRNA) including a guide sequence capable of hybridizing with a target nucleotide sequence, and a uridine repeat sequence connected to the 3′-end of the guide sequence, or a DNA encoding the same; and a Cpf1 protein or a DNA encoding the same, a method for genome editing using the same, a method for construction of a genetically modified organism, and a genetically modified organism. The present invention can increase an indel efficiency and decrease off-target activity in genome editing of eukaryotic cells using the CRIPSPR/Cpf1 system and thus can easily construct a genetically modified cell or genetically modified animal or plant having a desired gene inserted thereinto (knock-in) or deleted therefrom (knock-out).

Methods and materials for modulating low-nitrogen tolerance levels in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding low nitrogen tolerance-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased.sub.[RCL2] low-nitrogen tolerance levels and plant products produced from plants having increased low-nitrogen tolerance levels.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for improving yield, yield stability, and/or drought stress tolerance in plants. Plants and/or plant parts identified, selected and/or produced using compositions and methods of the present invention are also provided.

The disclosure encompassed herein relates, in part, to a method for increasing energy density of plant biomass that can be used for production of renewable fuel, such as biodiesel oil and/or ethanol. In an aspect, genetic engineering for enhanced sugar accumulation can be achieved by overexpressing a bacterial enzyme sucrose isomerase. Sugars or oils extracted from the plants of the disclosure encompassed herein may be used for industrial purposes such as heating, producing bio-fuels such as biodiesel fuel, or lubricating applications.

The invention relates to plant transcription factor polypeptides, polynucleotides that encode them, homologs from a variety of plant species, and methods of using the polynucleotides and polypeptides to produce transgenic plants having advantageous properties compared to a reference plant. Sequence information related to these polynucleotides and polypeptides can also be used in bioinformatic search methods and is also disclosed.

A method of altering a eukaryotic cell is provided including transfecting the eukaryotic cell with a nucleic acid encoding RNA complementary to genomic DNA of the eukaryotic cell, transfecting the eukaryotic cell with a nucleic acid encoding an enzyme that interacts with the RNA and cleaves the genomic DNA in a site specific manner, wherein the cell expresses the RNA and the enzyme, the RNA binds to complementary genomic DNA and the enzyme cleaves the genomic DNA in a site specific manner.

The invention provides nucleotide sequences and amino acid sequences of the Dipgene as well as (functional) homologues, fragments and variants thereof, which provides diplospory as a part of apomixis. Also diplospory plants and methods for making these are provided, as are methods of using these, and methods of making apomictic seed.

The invention provides protease genes which are regulated in a specific manner during curing of tobacco plants material and which affect the flavour of cured tobacco.

The invention provides for systems, methods, and compositions for targeting nucleic acids. In particular, the invention provides non-naturally occurring or engineered RNA-targeting systems comprising a novel RNA-targeting CRISPR effector protein and at least one targeting nucleic acid component like a guide RNA.