ICAR-CRRI develops Plant-OpenCRISPR1, the world’s first AI-designed plant genome-editing tool

Direct fact

On 22 May 2026, scientists at the ICAR-Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI), Cuttack, announced Plant-OpenCRISPR1 (POC1), described as the world’s first AI-designed genome-editing tool for plants.

Key specifics

• The work was led by scientist Kutubuddin Ali Molla at the Cuttack facility in Odisha.
• POC1 builds on the human-centric OpenCRISPR-1 (OC1) platform.
• The tool uses large language models (LLMs) trained on protein sequences to design enzymes from scratch.
• It was validated for gene knockout, base editing and prime editing in crops.
• ICAR-CRRI was established in 1946 and functions under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Exam lens

Science & technology current affairs, AI + genome editing, ICAR-CRRI, Cuttack, 22 May 2026, POC1 — TNPSC may ask the first AI-designed plant editing tool and the institute behind it.