JERUSALEM, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Israel launched a program to develop technologies for genetic repair of humans and plants at a cost of 60 million new shekels (16.61 million U.S. dollars), the Hebrew language website Ynet reported on Wednesday.
The goal of the new program is to develop a technology that can repair diseased genes through genetic modification that will lead to the recovery of the patient or plant.
The program includes a tender, published by the Israeli Innovation Authority (IIA), for companies that could develop genetic modification tools to solve genetic defects.
The chosen companies will partner with other companies that have already joined the IIA for this purpose, as well as with academic researchers and hospitals for joint development of the technologies.
Genome editing allows to locate the "ill" gene in the extracted DNA sample, cut it from the DNA surface and replace it with a healthy gene.
The proper gene can be taken from a healthy person or plant, as well as from a healthy gene grown in a laboratory.
According to the IIA, genetic modification may correct, for example, the defective gene in "bubble babies" who suffer from severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and must live in a sterile environment.
In agriculture, genome editing may be used to develop plant species resistant to less polluting fertilizers and species that will survive virtually without water.
