In silico analysis enabling informed design for genome editing in medicinal cannabis; gene families and variant characterisation

Cannabis has been used worldwide for centuries for industrial, recreational and medicinal use, however, to date no successful attempts at editing genes involved in cannabinoid biosynthesis have been reported. This study proposes and develops an in silico best practices approach for the design and implementation of genome editing technologies in cannabis to target all genes involved in cannabinoid biosynthesis. A large dataset of reference genomes was accessed and mined to determine copy number variation and associated SNP variants for optimum target edit sites for genotype independent editing. Copy number variance and highly polymorphic gene sequences exist in the genome making genome editing using CRISPR,…

• AN
  Agence Nationale de la Recherche

  Award: ANR-2010-BLAN-1533
• FA
  Fondation ARC pour la Recherche sur le Cancer

  Award: DOC2013 0606849
• AV
  Agriculture Victoria