cisgenese

Cisgenesis, sometimes written cisgenèse in reference to its use in some languages, is a plant genetic modification approach in which genes and their regulatory elements are transferred from a donor plant that is sexually compatible with the recipient. The donor and recipient belong to the same species or to a crossable relative, so the introduced gene could, in principle, have been obtained by conventional breeding.

In cisgenesis, the gene is introduced in its native form, including introns and regulatory sequences, preserving its natural expression pattern. Transformation methods such as Agrobacterium-mediated transfer or particle bombardment are used. In many implementations, selectable marker sequences are removed later, resulting in cisgenic plants that carry only the donor gene in the recipient genome.

Applications are primarily in crop improvement, including disease or pest resistance, stress tolerance, and quality traits. Researchers have explored cisgenic crops in several species, including efforts to introduce resistance genes from wild relatives into cultivated potato and in other fruit crops, highlighting the potential to achieve trait gains without introducing genes from unrelated species.

Advantages of cisgenesis include alignment with conventional breeding goals by using the same gene pool, potential improvement in public acceptance in some markets, and the possibility of reducing linkage drag. Limitations include ongoing regulatory uncertainties, access to compatible donor genes, and concerns about ecological effects or gene flow. Like other forms of genetic modification, cisgenesis remains subject to risk assessment and regulatory oversight, which varies by country and over time.

Regulatory treatment of cisgenic crops differs by jurisdiction, with some regimes distinguishing them from transgenic crops and others applying the same GMO principles, reflecting ongoing policy discussions about genetics, safety, and labeling.