Upstream Biotechnology
Launched:
1970
Management:
Peter Alexander
Duke Inventor(s):
Xinnian Dong
Upstream Biotechnology uses patented technology to develop broad-spectrum disease-resistant crops to eliminate pesticide use, reduce production costs, and increase crop yield.
This novel method alters upstream DNA sequences to turn on a defensive gene while also using newly discovered sequence elements called upstream open reading frames (uORFs). The technology might also be used to produce various therapeutic proteins in plants.