CRISPR/Cas biotechnology: Targeted and Versatile Gene Editing in Petunia
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Publicatie bij de rede, uitgesproken bij de aanvaarding van het ambt als lector Green Biotechnology aan Hogeschool Inholland te Amsterdam op 20 mei2015 door dr. C.M. Kreike
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This paper investigates how firms adapt their innovation strategies to cope with constraints in national institutional environments. It is a comparative case study of Dutch and British dedicated biotechnology firms focusing on a particular type of strategy, the hybrid model. Patterns of skill accumulation and learning present in the Dutch hybrids are indications of how they use institutional advantages to focus on low-risk innovation and build deeper competences while also pursuing high-risk innovation strategies. The Dutch hybrid model offers insight into how firms comply with the dominant logic of the biotechnology field even when their institutional frameworks encourage the pursuit of low-risk innovation strategies.
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The Green Biotechnology research group focusses on the application of molecular breeding/biotechnological tools and also on the development/analysis of new tools, for the breeding of enhanced vegetable crops and ornamental plants. The research group is positioned within Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Life Sciences & Chemistry and serves as a link between the breeding companies and our education of the skilled technicians of tomorrow. We are working on the development of a method for targeted mutagenesis of plant genomes using the bacterial CRISPR-Cas system. This method greatly enhances the effectiveness and speed by which new crops and plants can be developed
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From the article: "Whilst the importance of online peer feedback and writing argumentative essays for students in higher education is unquestionable, there is a need for further research into whether and the extent to which female and male students differ with regard to their argumentative feedback, essay writing, and content learning in online settings. The current study used a pre-test, post-test design to explore the extent to which female and male students differ regarding their argumentative feedback quality, essay writing and content learning in an online environment. Participants were 201 BSc biotechnology students who wrote an argumentative essay, engaged in argumentative peer feedback with learning partners in the form of triads and finally revised their original argumentative essay. The findings revealed differences between females and males in terms of the quality of their argumentative feedback. Female students provided higher-quality argumentative feedback than male students. Although all students improved their argumentative essay quality and also knowledge content from pre-test to post-test, these improvements were not significantly different between females and males. Explanations for these findings and recommendations are provided"
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BACKGROUND: Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) stones are the major byproduct of the cherry industry and the efficient management of this biowaste can lead to achieving the food processing sustainability aimed at by the modern food industry. Despite its significant content of lipids, the valorization of cherry stone waste as feedstock for lipid extraction appears to be limited due to the high moisture content. This study explores the primary factors that affect the yield of lipid extraction using Soxhlet, Randall and supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extraction methods, with a particular emphasis on yield optimization for green extraction technologies (scCO2). RESULTS: The investigation revealed an increased lipid extraction yield for scCO2 from 7.4 for dry crushed stones to 20.6 g per 100 g dry weight when the cherry kernels are separated. The high initial moisture content affected all three extraction methods, but mostly impacted the scCO2 extraction, resulting in the co-extraction of an aqueous phase. Lipid and aqueous yield could be manipulated by time, temperature and pressure. However, no observable influence on the composition of fatty acid methyl esters was detected. CONCLUSION: Numerous approaches are shown to enhance the lipid yield from cherry stone waste, depending on the desired outcome. When dealing with wet samples, Randall extraction proves to be the most effective method. On the other hand, scCO2 extraction presents distinct advantages, such as the extraction of food-grade lipids and the co-extraction of a unique aqueous phase, which comes at the expense of a reduced lipid yield. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
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Veredelen zou een stuk sneller gaan als je simpelweg op bestelling de gewenste eigenschappen kunt aanbrengen. Lector Green Biotechnology, Nelleke Kreike van Hogeschool Inholland ziet dit als de toekomst van veredeling: met een wensenlijstje naar een moleculaire veredelaar.
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Klotho knock-out mice are an important model for vascular calcification, which is associated with chronic kidney disease. In chronic kidney disease, serum magnesium inversely correlates with vascular calcification. Here we determine the effects of serum magnesium on aortic calcification in Klotho knock-out mice treated with a minimal or a high magnesium diet from birth. After eight weeks, serum biochemistry and aorta and bone tissues were studied. Protective effects of magnesium were characterized by RNA-sequencing of the aorta and micro-CT analysis was performed to study bone integrity. A high magnesium diet prevented vascular calcification and aortic gene expression of Runx2 and matrix Gla protein found in such mice on the minimal magnesium diet. Differential expression of inflammation and extracellular matrix remodeling genes accompanied the beneficial effects of magnesium on calcification. High dietary magnesium did not affect serum parathyroid hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or calcium. High magnesium intake prevented vascular calcification despite increased fibroblast growth factor-23 and phosphate concentration in the knock-out mice. Compared to mice on the minimal magnesium diet, the high magnesium diet reduced femoral bone mineral density by 20% and caused excessive osteoid formation indicating osteomalacia. Osteoclast activity was unaffected by the high magnesium diet. In Saos-2 osteoblasts, magnesium supplementation reduced mineralization independent of osteoblast function. Thus, high dietary magnesium prevents calcification in Klotho knock-out mice. These effects are potentially mediated by reduction of inflammatory and extracellular matrix remodeling pathways within the aorta. Hence magnesium treatment may be promising to prevent vascular calcification, but the risk for osteomalacia should be considered.
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A bacterium belonging to the Bacillus firmus/lentus-complex and capable of growth on native potato starch was isolated from sludge of a pilot plant unit for potato-starch production. Utilization of a crude enzyme preparation obtained from the culture fluid after growth of the microorganism on native starch, resulted in complete degradation of native starch granules from potato, maize and wheat at a temperature of 37°C. Glucose was found as a major product. Production of maltose, maltotriose and maltotetraose was also observed. Native-starch-degrading activity (NSDA) could be selectively adsorbed on potato-starch granules, whereas soluble-starch-degrading activity (SSDA) remained mainly in solution. The use of such a starch-adsorbed enzyme preparation on native starch resulted in a completely changed product pattern. An increase in oligosaccharides concomitant with less glucose formation was observed. An increased conversion of soluble starch to maltopentaose was possible with this starch-adsorbed enzyme preparation. It is concluded that NSDA comes from α-amylase(s) and SSDA from glucoamylase(s) and/or α-glucosidase(s). Cultivation of B. firmus/lentus on glucose, maltose, or soluble starch resulted in substantially smaller quantities of (native) starch-degrading activity.
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Abstract Aureobasidium is omnipresent and can be isolated from air, water bodies, soil, wood, and other plant materials, as well as inorganic materials such as rocks and marble. A total of 32 species of this fungal genus have been identified at the level of DNA, of which Aureobasidium pullulans is best known. Aureobasidium is of interest for a sustainable economy because it can be used to produce a wide variety of compounds, including enzymes, polysaccharides, and biosurfactants. Moreover, it can be used to promote plant growth and protect wood and crops. To this end, Aureobasidium cells adhere to wood or plants by producing extracellular polysaccharides, thereby forming a biofilm. This biofilm provides a sustainable alternative to petrol-based coatings and toxic chemicals. This and the fact that Aureobasidium biofilms have the potential of self-repair make them a potential engineered living material avant la lettre.
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