In 2012, researchers developed a high-efficiency TALEN-based gene editing method to produce disease-resistant rice. The study targeted the Os11N3 gene, which is hijacked by the bacterial pathogen Xoo to promote disease susceptibility. By using TALEN technology, the researchers disrupted the gene's promoter region, which contains binding sites for Xoo effectors, thereby preventing the pathogen from activating the gene and reducing the plant's susceptibility to bacterial blight. The TALEN system was designed to specifically target these binding sites without affecting the gene's normal developmental functions. The study demonstrated that the edited rice plants showed resistance to the pathogen, as evidenced by reduced lesion sizes on infected leaves. The TALEN-based modifications were heritable, and the researchers successfully generated resistant rice plants through multiple generations. The study also showed that the TALEN technology could be used to remove selection markers and TALEN genes from the rice genome, leading to the development of genetically modified rice without these markers. The findings suggest that TALEN-based gene editing can be a powerful tool for improving crop resistance to diseases in rice and potentially other plant species.In 2012, researchers developed a high-efficiency TALEN-based gene editing method to produce disease-resistant rice. The study targeted the Os11N3 gene, which is hijacked by the bacterial pathogen Xoo to promote disease susceptibility. By using TALEN technology, the researchers disrupted the gene's promoter region, which contains binding sites for Xoo effectors, thereby preventing the pathogen from activating the gene and reducing the plant's susceptibility to bacterial blight. The TALEN system was designed to specifically target these binding sites without affecting the gene's normal developmental functions. The study demonstrated that the edited rice plants showed resistance to the pathogen, as evidenced by reduced lesion sizes on infected leaves. The TALEN-based modifications were heritable, and the researchers successfully generated resistant rice plants through multiple generations. The study also showed that the TALEN technology could be used to remove selection markers and TALEN genes from the rice genome, leading to the development of genetically modified rice without these markers. The findings suggest that TALEN-based gene editing can be a powerful tool for improving crop resistance to diseases in rice and potentially other plant species.