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Doubled haploid technology provides an advanced breeding platform capable of yielding elite cultivars in a timeframe unmatched by traditional breeding. However, such a platform has yet to be reported for soybean. We have developed a pipeline capable of producing embryos efficiently by culturing microspores, the immature male gametophyte of plants. Following a series of cold shocks to the donor plants and initial cold incubation, isolated microspores of soybean were cultured with 10 ppm 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid as auxin and 0.1 ppm 6-benzylaminopurine as cytokinin. All culture replicates exhibited sustained cell divisions leading to the formation of complex structures including embryos. Preliminary flow cytometry results indicated the haploid status of the isolated microspores placed into culture and the occurrence of spontaneous chromosome doubling. Embryo development has been documented and compared to the androgenesis model system, Brassica napus, with many similarities. Ongoing work will focus on the conversion of these embryos into plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairies may receive a significant premium for full beef calves versus straight-bred dairy calves. The market for full beef calves from dairy farms has steadily increased in recent years, offering farmers a more profitable option than the traditional dairy-beef crossbred or straight-bred dairy calf markets. [Extracted from the article]

New genetic technologies allow scientists to delete a mutant gene and insert a healthy one, which someday may enable doctors to banish disease genes. Used in embryos, gene editing has the potential to eliminate inherited diseases, such as cystic fibrosis. Until recently, the techniques have been used only on embryos from laboratory animals. In April, however, stunned scientists accused Chinese researchers of crossing a strict ethical boundary by using the technology on human embryos -- albeit nonviable ones. Some ethicists and scientists fear that if the new genetic engineering techniques are used to alter viable human embryos, scientists would then begin creating "designer babies." The Chinese experiment raised fears that the notorious eugenics movement of the early 20th century -- aimed at creating a perfect "master race" -- might re-emerge. Twenty-nine countries -- but not the United States -- prohibit genetic manipulation of human embryos, and ethicists and scientists are calling for a worldwide ban or moratorium until such procedures are better understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea of breeding dairy cows to conceive crossbred beef calves is nothing new. According to a Select Sires press release, beef calves with superior genetics have the potential to earn a better return on investment compared to dairy beef crossbreeds or straight dairy calves. [Extracted from the article]