Rosetta Genomics subsidiary Rosetta Green said this week that it has discovered new corn plant microRNA sequences that “may contribute to improved tolerance to environmental stress, including resistance to salinity and temperature, as well as increased fertilizer use efficiency.”
The company said that these miRNAs may prove commercially valuable “since corn is one of the most common crops in the world, with its seeds being used for both human and animal consumption, as well as for production of alternative fuels.”
Rosetta Green was established in late 2008 as a unit of Rosetta Genomics as part of a bid to realize additional value from the company's miRNA technologies and know-how in areas outside of human health (GSN 10/30/2008).
In mid-2010, Rosetta made Rosetta Green a majority-owned subsidiary and passing along licenses to intellectual property related to the use of miRNAs in agricultural and clean technology applications (GSN 6/3/2010).
Earlier this year, the company went public on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (GSN 2/24/2011).