Patents by Inventor Tim Fox

Tim Fox has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11926823
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for genome modification of a nucleotide sequence located in or near a male fertility gene of MS9, MS22, MS26, or MS45 in the genome of a plant cell or plant to produce a male-sterile plant. In some examples, the methods and compositions employ a guide RNA/Cas endonuclease system for modifying or altering target sites located in or near a male fertility gene of MS9, MS22, MS26, or MS45 in the genome of a plant cell, plant or seed to produce a male-sterile plant. Also provided are compositions and methods employing a guide polynucleotide/Cas endonuclease system for genome modification a nucleotide sequence located in or near a male fertility gene of MS9, MS22, MS26, or MS45 in the genome of a plant cell to produce a male-sterile plant. Compositions and methods are also provided for restoring fertility to a Ms9, Ms22, Ms26, or Ms45 nucleotide sequence to a male-sterile Ms9, Ms22, Ms26, or Ms45 plant produced using the methods and compositions described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Mark Cigan, Tim Fox, Manjit Singh
  • Publication number: 20230203516
    Abstract: Plant cell fate and development is altered by treating cells with cellular reprogramming factors. Embryogenesis inducing morphogenic developmental genes are used as cellular reprogramming factors, specifically comprising polypeptides or polynucleotides encoding gene products for generating doubled haploids or haploid plants from gametes. Maize microspores treated by contacting the isolated cells with an exogenous purified, recombinant embryogenesis inducing morphogenic developmental gene polypeptide results in embryogenesis. The gametes of a maize plant develop into embryoids when transformed with a genetic construct including regulatory elements and structural genes capable of acting in a cascading fashion to alter cellular fate of plant cells. Developmental morphogenic proteins expressed from a genetic construct are used for ex situ treatment methods and for in planta cellular reprogramming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: TIM FOX, WILLIAM JAMES GORDON-KAMM, RACHEL CAROL HUEGEL, KEITH S. LOWE, JON AARON TUCKER REINDERS, HUAXUN YE
  • Publication number: 20230132042
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of obtaining clonal seeds, methods of plant cloning, methods of screening for maternal plants that produce clonal seeds asexually and methods of increasing yield of clonal seeds. Also disclosed are constructs comprising a nucleic acid that may silence the activity of a RNA-dependent DNA methylation pathway gene. Further disclosed are maternal plants comprising a construct wherein the construct comprises an exogenous nucleic acid sequence, wherein the construct renders the maternal plant defective for RNA-dependent DNA methylation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: SHAI J. LAWIT, Marc C. Albertsen, Tim Fox, William Gordon-Kamm, Michelle M. Van Allen, Jean-Philippe Vielle Calzada, Carlos Barragan Rosillo, Edgar Demesa Arevalo, Carlos Gonzalez Chavez, Elvira Hernandez Lagana, Gloria Leon Martinez, Nidia Sanchez Leon, Daniel Rodriguez Leal, Isaac Rodriguez Arevalo, Jaime Padilla Calzada
  • Publication number: 20230102527
    Abstract: The compositions and methods disclosed relate to DNA compositions, plant cells, seeds, plant parts that relate to maize maintainer plants. Also provided are assays for detecting the presence of the maize DP-056113-9 event based on the DNA sequence of the recombinant DNA construct inserted into the maize genome and the DNA sequences flanking the insertion site. Kits and conditions useful in conducting the assays are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: HEATHER MARIE CHRISTENSEN, SARAH COLLINSON, TIM FOX, KRISTIN HAUG COLLET, MARY TRIMNELL
  • Patent number: 11466288
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of obtaining clonal seeds, methods of plant cloning, methods of screening for maternal plants that produce clonal seeds asexually and methods of increasing yield of clonal seeds. Also disclosed are constructs comprising a nucleic acid that may silence the activity of a RNA-dependent DNA methylation pathway gene. Further disclosed are maternal plants comprising a construct wherein the construct comprises an exogenous nucleic acid sequence, wherein the construct renders the maternal plant defective for RNA-dependent DNA methylation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: Shai J. Lawit, Marc C. Albertsen, Tim Fox, William Gordon-Kamm, Michelle M. Van Allen, Jean-Philippe Vielle Calzada, Carlos Barragan Rosillo, Edgar Demesa Arevalo, Carlos Gonzalez Chavez, Elvira Hernandez Lagana, Gloria Leon Martinez, Nidia Sanchez Leon, Daniel Rodriguez Leal, Isaac Rodriguez Arevalo, Jaime Padilla Calzada
  • Patent number: 11447786
    Abstract: Plant cell fate and development is altered by treating cells with cellular reprogramming factors. Embryogenesis inducing morphogenic developmental genes are used as cellular reprogramming factors, specifically comprising polypeptides or polynucleotides encoding gene products for generating doubled haploids or haploid plants from gametes. Maize microspores treated by contacting the isolated cells with an exogenous purified, recombinant embryogenesis inducing morphogenic developmental gene polypeptide results in embryogenesis. The gametes of a maize plant develop into embryoids when transformed with a genetic construct including regulatory elements and structural genes capable of acting in a cascading fashion to alter cellular fate of plant cells. Developmental morphogenic proteins expressed from a genetic construct are used for ex situ treatment methods and for in planta cellular reprogramming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventors: Tim Fox, William James Gordon-Kamm, Rachel Carol Huegel, Keith S Lowe, Jon Aaron Tucker Reinders, Huaxun Ye
  • Publication number: 20220275383
    Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides, and recombinant DNA constructs useful for regulating plant sterility are provided, and methods utilizing these recombinant DNA constructs are also provided. Compositions comprising these recombinant DNA constructs or a modified endogenous sterile gene are further provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Applicants: SINOBIOWAY BIO-AGRICULTURE GROUP CO. LTD., PIONEER OVERSEAS CORPORATION
    Inventors: GUIHUA LU, GUANFAN MAO, GUOKUI WANG, WEI WANG, HUANHUAN DING, YUZHEN ZHENG, MARC C ALBERTSEN, TIM FOX
  • Publication number: 20220056439
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for genome modification of a nucleotide sequence located in or near a male fertility gene of MS9, MS22, MS26, or MS45 in the genome of a plant cell or plant to produce a male-sterile plant. In some examples, the methods and compositions employ a guide RNA/Cas endonuclease system for modifying or altering target sites located in or near a male fertility gene of MS9, MS22, MS26, or MS45 in the genome of a plant cell, plant or seed to produce a male-sterile plant. Also provided are compositions and methods employing a guide polynucleotide/Cas endonuclease system for genome modification a nucleotide sequence located in or near a male fertility gene of MS9, MS22, MS26, or MS45 in the genome of a plant cell to produce a male-sterile plant. Compositions and methods are also provided for restoring fertility to a Ms9, Ms22, Ms26, or Ms45 nucleotide sequence to a male-sterile Ms9, Ms22, Ms26, or Ms45 plant produced using the methods and compositions described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: ANDREW MARK CIGAN, TIM FOX, MANJIT SINGH
  • Publication number: 20220056472
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for restoring fertility and maintaining sterility in plants. In particular, one method disclosed includes introducing into a male-sterile plant, wherein the plant comprises one or more homozygous mutations in a male-fertility gene, a plant restoration donor chromosomal component comprising a plant-derived polynucleotide that confers a plant phenotypic marker linked to a male-fertility restoration locus that functionally complements the male-sterility phenotype from the one or more homozygous mutations in the male-sterile plant. In some examples, the plant-derived polynucleotide that confers a plant phenotypic marker and the male-fertility restoration locus are linked to each other and located on the same chromosomal arm on the plant restoration donor chromosomal component. In some examples, the plant-derived polynucleotide that confers a plant phenotypic marker, the male-fertility restoration locus, or both are modified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: MARC C ALBERTSEN, TIM FOX, MANJIT SINGH, MARK E WILLIAMS
  • Publication number: 20210139927
    Abstract: A nuclear maize gene is mutated to result in dominant male sterility. Two mutants are provided which impact signal peptide processing. Restoration constructs and methods are provided for use of the dominant male-sterile mutants in producing hybrid seed for male-sterile hybrid plants. Other signal-peptide modifications are provided. Orthologs of the wild type or mutated gene in various species are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicants: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC., E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: MARC C ALBERTSEN, TIM FOX, APRIL L LEONARD, BAILIN LI, BRIAN R LOVELAND, MARY TRIMNELL
  • Patent number: 10870860
    Abstract: A nuclear maize gene is mutated to result in dominant male sterility. Two mutants are provided which impact signal peptide processing. Restoration constructs and methods are provided for use of the dominant male-sterile mutants in producing hybrid seed for male-sterile hybrid plants. Other signal-peptide modifications are provided. Orthologs of the wild type or mutated gene in various species are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Inventors: Marc C Albertsen, Tim Fox, April L Leonard, Bailin Li, Brian R Loveland, Mary Trimnell
  • Publication number: 20200263189
    Abstract: Plant cell fate and development is altered by treating cells with cellular reprogramming factors. Embryogenesis inducing morphogenic developmental genes are used as cellular reprogramming factors, specifically comprising polypeptides or polynucleotides encoding gene products for generating doubled haploids or haploid plants from gametes. Maize microspores treated by contacting the isolated cells with an exogenous purified, recombinant embryogenesis inducing morphogenic developmental gene polypeptide results in embryogenesis. The gametes of a maize plant develop into embryoids when transformed with a genetic construct including regulatory elements and structural genes capable of acting in a cascading fashion to alter cellular fate of plant cells. Developmental morphogenic proteins expressed from a genetic construct are used for ex situ treatment methods and for in planta cellular reprogramming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: TIM FOX, WILLIAM JAMES GORDON-KAMM, RACHEL CAROL HUEGEL, KEITH S LOWE, JON AARON TUCKER REINDERS, HUAXUN YE
  • Patent number: 10548276
    Abstract: Genetic male sterile plants are provided in which complementing constructs result in suppression of a parental phenotype in the progeny. Methods to generate and maintain such plants and methods of use of said plants, are provided, including use of parental plants to produce sterile plants for hybrid seed production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Tim Fox, Dale F. Loussaert, Jeffrey Schussler, Juan Pablo San Martin Toloza, Bo Shen
  • Publication number: 20190211354
    Abstract: A nuclear maize gene is mutated to result in dominant male sterility. Two mutants are provided which impact signal peptide processing. Restoration constructs and methods are provided for use of the dominant male-sterile mutants in producing hybrid seed for male-sterile hybrid plants. Other signal-peptide modifications are provided. Orthologs of the wild type or mutated gene in various species are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicants: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC., E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: MARC C. ALBERTSEN, TIM FOX, APRIL L. LEONARD, BAILIN LI, BRIAN R. LOVELAND, MARY TRIMNELL
  • Publication number: 20190177722
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for genome modification of a nucleotide sequence located in or near a male fertility gene of MS9, MS22, MS26, or MS45 in the genome of a plant cell or plant to produce a male-sterile plant. In some examples, the methods and compositions employ a guide RNA/Cas endonuclease system for modifying or altering target sites located in or near a male fertility gene of MS9, MS22, MS26, or MS45 in the genome of a plant cell, plant or seed to produce a male-sterile plant. Also provided are compositions and methods employing a guide polynucleotide/Cas endonuclease system for genome modification a nucleotide sequence located in or near a male fertility gene of MS9, MS22, MS26, or MS45 in the genome of a plant cell to produce a male-sterile plant. Compositions and methods are also provided for restoring fertility to a Ms9, Ms22, Ms26, or Ms45 nucleotide sequence to a male-sterile Ms9, Ms22, Ms26, or Ms45 plant produced using the methods and compositions described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: ANDREW MARK CIGAN, TIM FOX, MANJIT SINGH
  • Publication number: 20190024102
    Abstract: Genetic male sterile plants are provided in which complementing constructs result in suppression of a parental phenotype in the progeny. Methods to generate and maintain such plants and methods of use of said plants, are provided, including use of parental plants to produce sterile plants for hybrid seed production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: TIM FOX, DALE F. LOUSSAERT, JEFFREY SCHUSSLER, JUAN PABLO SAN MARTIN TOLOZA, BO SHEN
  • Patent number: 10155961
    Abstract: A nuclear maize gene is mutated to result in dominant male sterility. Two mutants are provided which impact signal peptide processing. Restoration constructs and methods are provided for use of the dominant male-sterile mutants in producing hybrid seed for male-sterile hybrid plants. Other signal-peptide modifications are provided. Orthologs of the wild type or mutated gene in various species are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignees: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL. INC., E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Marc Albertsen, Tim Fox, April Leonard, Bailin Li, Brian Loveland, Mary Trimnell
  • Publication number: 20180258445
    Abstract: Nucleotide sequences, amino acid sequences, and an associated promoter sequence are useful in methods of controlling male fertility in plants. Recombinant expression cassettes, vectors, plant cells, and plants comprise a disclosed nucleotide sequence and may encode a disclosed amino acid sequence. The recombinant expression cassettes are useful in controlling fertility, especially male fertility of annual crops. The promoter is useful in driving expression of an operably-linked heterologous polynucleotide. Constructs comprising homology to the promoter sequence are useful for downregulation of a polynucleotide associated with the promoter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicants: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC., E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: MARC C ALBERTSEN, TIM FOX, APRIL LEONARD, BAILIN LI, BRIAN LOVELAND, MARY TRIMNELL
  • Publication number: 20170342430
    Abstract: Pairs of plants are provided in which complementing constructs result in suppression of a parental phenotype in the progeny. Methods to generate and maintain such plants and methods of use of said plants, are provided, including use of parental plants to produce sterile plants for hybrid seed production. Also provided are methods for maintaining a homozygous recessive condition and for repressing transmission of transgenes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: ANDREW MARK CIGAN, TIM FOX, HOWARD P HERSHEY, ERICA UNGER-WALLACE, YONGZHONG WU
  • Patent number: 9803215
    Abstract: Nucleotide sequences of a Msca1 gene, critical to male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. Promoter sequences and their essential regions are also identified. The nucleotide sequences are useful in impacting male fertility in plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignees: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC., E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Marc Albertsen, Tim Fox, Mary Trimnell, Yongzhong Wu, Keith Lowe