Patents Examined by Amy J. Nelson
  • Inbred corn plant 7180 and seeds thereof
    Patent number: 6452076
    Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided an inbred corn plant designated 7180. This invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the inbred corn plant 7180, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred corn plant 7180 with itself or with another corn plant, such as another inbred. This invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred plant 7180 with another corn plant, such as another inbred, and to crosses with related species. This invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of the inbred corn plant 7180, and also to the SSR and genetic isozyme typing profiles of inbred corn plant 7180.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Asgrow Seed Company, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Graham
  • Methods to assay for post-transcriptional suppression of gene expression
    Patent number: 6452067
    Abstract: This invention provides methods for identifying plant cells that exhibit post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) of a chosen gene. The methods involve the use of suppression-sensitive reporter genes that, when introduced into plant cells, are expressed at a lower level in cells that exhibit PTGS than in cells that are not silenced for the particular gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: DNA Plant Technology Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Bedbrook, Neal Gutterson, Paul W. Oeller
  • Genetic and epigenetic manipulation of ABC transporters and ectophosphatases for the conference of hormone and herbicide resistance
    Patent number: 6448472
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for modulating the resistance of cells to foreign compounds, i.e. drugs, antibiotics, etc by altering the ATP gradient across biological membranes. The altering of the ATP gradient across biological membranes is achieved through the manipulation of ecto-phosphatase activity and ABC transporter molecule activity which may be useful to confer herbicide resistance to plants, confer antibiotic resistance to bacteria, confer drug resistance to yeast cells, or to reduce resistance in cells to facilitate chemotherapeutic treatments, and to reduce resistance in bacteria and yeast to aid in the treatment of certain infections and disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Collin E. Thomas, J. Brian Windsor, Stan J. Roux, Alan M. Lloyd
  • Soybean cultivar 951106723275
    Patent number: 6448477
    Abstract: A novel soybean cultivar, designated 951106723275, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 951106723275, to the plants of soybean 951106723275 and to methods for producing a soybean plant by crossing the cultivar 951106723275 with itself or another soybean variety. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar 951106723275 with another soybean cultivar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Asgrow Seed Company, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin W. Matson
  • Manipulation of tocopherol levels in transgenic plants by transformation with a synechocystis 2-methyl-6-phytylplastoquinol/2-methyl-6-solanylplastoquinol-9 methyltransferase
    Patent number: 6448475
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gene sequence which has been identified as encoding 2-methyl-6-phytylplastoquinol/2-methyl-6-solanylplastoquinol-9 methyltransferase from synechoeystis. By introducing a genetic construct having a 2-methyl-6-phytylplastoquinol/2-methyl-6-solanylplastoquinol-9 methyltransferase coding sequence placed under the control of a plant promoter into a plant, transgenic plants can be made having altered 2-methyl-6-phytylplastoquinol/2-methyl-6-solanylplastoquinol-9 methyltransferase expression, to effect changes in the tocopherol profile of the plant. Transgenic plants can be made that have altered tocopherol levels in their tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: The University and Community College System of Nevada
    Inventors: Dean DellaPenna, David K. Shintani
  • Inbred corn line 7RN401
    Patent number: 6444881
    Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated 7RN401, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line 7RN401, to the plants of inbred corn line 7RN401 and to methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the inbred line 7RN401 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from the inbred 7RN401.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Agrigenetics Inc.
    Inventor: David Herbert Meyer
  • Liquidambar styraciflua AGAMOUS (LSAG) gene
    Patent number: 6444877
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gene and gene product of sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), referred to herein as the LSAG gene, which is a homolog of the AGAMOUS gene. The LSAG gene is a flowering gene which is required for normal flower development and sweetgum fertility. The present invention is also directed to an LSAG promoter and/or enhancer and/or intron which can be used to prepare gene constructs and transgenic plants for tissue specific expression of the gene construct. The gene constructs and transgenic plants are further aspects of the present invention. Finally, the present invention is directed to methods to control flower development and hence assure sterility in transgenic sweetgum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Westvaco Corporation
    Inventor: William Horn Rottmann
  • Expression of fructose 1,6 bisphosphate aldolase in transgenic plants
    Patent number: 6441277
    Abstract: Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FDA) is an enzyme reversibly catalyzing the reaction converting triosephosphate into fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. In the leaf, this enzyme is located in the chloroplast (starch synthesis) and the cytosol (sucrose biosynthesis). Transgenic plants were generated that express the E. coli fda gene in the chloroplast to improve plant yield by increasing leaf starch biosynthetic ability in particular and sucrose production in general. Leaves from plants expressing the fda transgene showed a significantly higher starch accumulation, as compared to control plants expressing the null vector, particularly early in the photoperiod, but had lower leaf sucrose. Transgenic plants also had a significantly higher root mass. Furthermore, transgenic potatoes expressing fda exhibited improved uniformity of solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Gerard F. Barry, Nordine Cheikh, Ganesh M. Kishore
  • Scarecrow gene
    Patent number: 6441270
    Abstract: The structure and function of a regulatory gene, SCARECROW (SCR), is described. The SCR gene is expressed specifically in root progenitor tissues of embryos, and in roots and stems of seedlings and plants. SCR expression controls cell division of certain cell types in roots and affects the organization of root and stem tissues, and affects gravitropism of aerial structures. The invention relates to the SCARECROW (SCR) gene, SCR gene products, (including but not limited to transcriptional products such as mRNAs, antisense, and ribozyme molecules, and translational products such the SCR protein, polypeptides, peptides and fusion proteins related thereto), antibodies to SCR gene products, SCR promoters and regulatory regions and the use of the foregoing to improve agronomically valuable plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Philip N. Benfey, Laura Di Laurenzio, Joanna Wysocka-Diller, Jocelyn E. Malamy, Leonard Pysh, Yrjo Helariutta
  • ESR2 - a plant gene that can promote shoot regeneration
    Patent number: 6441276
    Abstract: A plant gene, Esr2, has been found which when overexpressed in plant cells results in cells which have cytokinin-independent cell growth. This feature allows the encoded protein ESR2 to be used as a selectable marker of transformed cells by growing the transformed cells on cytokinin-free media. It has also been found that overexpression of ESR2 in cells grown in the presence of cytokinins results in a higher regeneration of plants. This feature allows the gene to be used to obtain greater regeneration of plant cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Ikeda, Nam-Hai Chua
  • Reduced pigment gene of carrot and its use
    Patent number: 6437222
    Abstract: This invention relates to a carrot plant having Vitamin E biosynthesis, a recessive gene for reduced pigment designated rp, a carrot inbred line with Vitamin E biosynthesis. The carrot plant contains at least 0.01 mg &agr;-tocopherol per 100 grams of fresh weight of the carrot root. The present invention also relates to a method for producing F1 hybrid carrot root. The method includes crossing a first parent carrot plant with a second parent carrot plant and harvesting the resultant F1 hybrid carrot root.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Irwin L. Goldman, D. Nicholas Breitbach
  • Inbred maize line 2070BT
    Patent number: 6437223
    Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a novel DNA construct comprising an expression cassette having a constitutive promoter which functions in plant cells operably linked to a maize alcohol dehydrogenase intron, a DNA sequence of a gene encoding a Cry 1Ab protein, and a terminator functional in plants and optionally further comprising a second cassette including a promoter which functions in plants operably linked to a maize alcohol dehydrogenase intron, a DNA sequence of a gene encoding for phosphinothricin acetyl transferase, and a terminator functional in plants wherein the two cassettes are transcribed in the same direction. Also provided are transgenic plants, particularly maize plants, having such a construct stably incorporated into their genomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG
    Inventors: Irvin J Mettler, David Mies
  • Inbred corn line 6TR512
    Patent number: 6433260
    Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated 6TR512, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line 6TR512, to the plants of inbred corn line 6TR512 and to methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the inbred line 6TR512 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from the inbred 6TR512.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Agrigenetics Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Carl Anderson
  • Trans-activation of transcription from viral RNA
    Patent number: 6433248
    Abstract: A method of activating transcription of an RNA of interest in a cell (e.g., a dicot plant cell) includes the steps of: (a) providing a host cell containing a heterologous construct, the heterologous construct comprising an RNA virus subgenomic promoter operatively associated with a heterologous RNA of interest, wherein the promoter does not initiate transcription of the heterologous RNA in the absence of a corresponding RNA virus trans-activating RNA segment, and wherein the RNA virus trans-activating RNA segment is absent from the host cell; and then (b) introducing a trans-activating nucleic acid segment into the host cell so that transcription of the heterologous RNA is initiated. The trans-activating segment may be introduced into the cell by any suitable means, such as by infecting the cell with a virus, which virus expresses the trans-activating RNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Steven A. Lommel, Timmy L. Sit
  • Methods for producing carotenoid compounds, and specialty oils in plant seeds
    Patent number: 6429356
    Abstract: Methods are provided for producing plants and seeds having altered carotenoid, fatty acid and tocopherol compositions. The methods find particular use in increasing the carotenoid levels in oilseed plants and in providing desirable high oleic acid seed oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Calgene LLC
    Inventor: Christine K. Shewmaker
  • Maize PR-1 gene promoters
    Patent number: 6429362
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions are novel nucleotide sequences for inducible and constitutive promoters isolated from a family of maize genes encoding pathogenesis-related (PR-1) proteins. Methods for regulating expression of a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant in an inducible or constitutive manner are provided. The methods comprise transforming a plant cell to comprise a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to one of the inducible or constitutive promoters of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell. Transformed plants and seeds are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventor: Virginia C. Crane
  • Inbred corn line IT201
    Patent number: 6426451
    Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated IT201, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line IT201, to the plants of inbred corn line IT201 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line IT201 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line IT201 with another corn line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: FFR Cooperative, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Itnyre
  • Inbred corn line FR3311
    Patent number: 6420636
    Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated FR3311, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line FR3311, to the plants of inbred corn line FR3311 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line FR3311 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line FR3311 with another corn line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Illinois Foundation Seeds, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Allen Mikel
  • Inbred corn line FR3303
    Patent number: 6414228
    Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated FR3303, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line FR3303, to the plants of inbred corn line FR3303 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line FR3303 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line FR3303 with another corn line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Illinois Foundation Seeds, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Allen Mikel
  • Inbred corn line FR3383
    Patent number: 6410830
    Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated FR3383, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line FR3383, to the plants of inbred corn line FR3383 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line FR3383 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line FR3383 with another corn line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Illinois Foundation Seeds, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Allen Mikel