DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 2/26/2026 has been entered.
Status of Claims
Claims 1-8 & 10-15 are under examination on the merits.
The rejection of claims 1-3, 5, 8 & 10-15 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Heidmann et al (WO 2011/003850 A1) in view of Doley et al (1998) Plant Cell Reports 8: 222-225 and Gordon-Kamm et al (US 8704041 B2) is withdrawn in light of Applicant’s amendments.
The rejection of claims 1-8 & 10-15 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Heidmann, Doley, and Gordon-Kamm and further in view of Ivic-Haymes et al (2005) Plant Cell Rep 23:699–704. (published 11/5/2004, hereafter Ivic-Haymes) is withdrawn in light of Applicant’s amendments.
The provisional rejection of claims 1-6, 8, 10-12 & 14 on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-3 & 5-14 of copending Application No. 18/268,856 (reference application) is withdrawn in light of Applicant’s amendments.
Claim Interpretation
Claim 1 and all dependent claims require the cultivating step to be carried out in a medium free of plant hormones. The instant specification defines “plant hormone” as a chemical that influences the growth and development of plant cells and tissues (page 10, lines 29-30). However, the specification continues in the next two sentences to describe that plant growth hormones comprise chemicals from the groups of auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid and ethylene as well as brassinosteroids and polyamines (page 10, lines 30-34). The broadest interpretation of any chemical that influences plant growth and development would encompass chemicals such as water, sugar, oxygen, and basic salts. Requiring a medium free of all such chemicals would not be a reasonable interpretation of the limitation. For purposes of examination, “plant hormone” has been interpreted to encompass a chemical from the groups provided on page 10 rather than any chemical that influences the growth and development of plant cells and tissues.
Applicant does not agree or disagree with the interpretation but urges that amendments to claim 1 may address the interpretation (Remarks, page 7, paragraph 4).
The amendments to claim 1 (lines 38-41) recite intended results which do not necessarily limit the definition of plant hormone as provided in the specification to a class of chemical (page 10, lines 29-30). Because of this, the interpretation of “plant hormone” described above has been used for the continued examination of the claims.
Claim Objections
Claims 1 & 10 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1 (line 39-40): “developed” should read --develop--.
Claim 1 (line 41): “had” should read --have--.
Claim 10 (line 4) and claim 11 (line 8) recite “at least one cell of the callus obtained in step (A1)(a)”. If these cells are supposed to be the same cell as “the at least one cell of the callus obtained in step (a)” (claim 1 lines 4-5), then --the at least one cell of the callus obtained in step (A1)(a)-- would be appropriate.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Indefiniteness
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-8 & 10-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Due to Applicant' s amendment of the claims, the rejection is modified from the rejection as set forth in the Office action mailed 10/31/2025, as applied to claim 3. Applicant' s arguments filed 2/26/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the at least one cell of the callus obtained in step (a)" in lines 4-5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, because while line 3 recites “at least one Beta vulgaris plant cell”, this cell is not a cell “of the callus”. If “the” was removed from this use, the issue with antecedent basis would be solved. Dependent claims 2-8 & 10-15 are also rejected.
Claim 6 recites “the at least one Beta vulgaris plant cell of step (A1)” (lines 1-2). There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, because claim 1 step (A1) recites at least one Beta vulgaris plant cell (line 3) as well as “the at least one cell of the callus obtained” (lines 4-5), which is also a Beta vulgaris plant cell. Because the plant cell could reasonably refer to either of the cells in step A1, the limitation lacks antecedent basis. If only the first at least one plant cell is intended, “the at least one Beta vulgaris plant cell of step (A1)(a)” could solve the antecedent basis issue.
Claim 14 recites the limitation “the plant of claim 12” in line 1. Claim 15 recites the limitation "the plant of claim 13" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitation in the claims, because claims 12 & 13 both recite two plants: a plant obtained or obtainable by the method of claim 11 (lines 1-2) and a progeny plant (line 2). Because “the plant” could reasonably refer to either of the plants in claims 12 or 13, the limitation lacks antecedent basis.
Applicant urges that the amendments render the rection moot (Remarks, page 7, paragraphs 6).
This argument is unpersuasive, because claims 1, 6, 14 & 15 are indefinite for the reasons presented above.
Written Description
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 12-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
This is a New Rejection.
Claim 12 & 14 are drawn to a Beta vulgaris transgenic plant obtained or obtainable by the method of claim 11 or progeny thereof, or a seed or cell of the plant. Claims 13 & 15 are drawn to a modified Beta vulgaris plant obtained or obtainable by the method of claim 11 or progeny thereof, or a seed or cell of the plant. Claim 15 requires that the cell or seed comprises the modification in the genome but not a coding nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2.
The instant specification does not define “progeny” so it is not definite whether progeny is limited to first generation progeny or any generation. First generation progeny of an inbred line may be considered described, because one set of the inherited genome is known in all first-generation progeny. However, the method of claim 11 does not require that the Beta vulgaris plant is inbred. Because of crossing over, first generation progeny of lines that are not inbred and later generation progeny of an inbred line will not necessarily share any common genetic component. A plant that is a progeny of the plant produced by the method of claim 11 multiple generations removed may not share any traits in common with the plant produced by the method of claim 11.
Claims 12-15 are product by process claims, which are not limited to the manipulations of the recited steps but only the structure implied by the steps (MPEP 2113(I)). No such shared structure would necessarily be present in plants produced by the method of claim 11 and progeny thereof, and in cells and seeds of the plant or progeny.
The instant specification teaches plants recovered from the claimed method (page 46, lines 1-21) and that they are fertile and produce seeds (page 47, lines 28-page 48, line 11, figure 25). No further generations of progeny are described and no structural features of the plants and progeny thereof are described.
One of skill in the art would not recognize that Applicant was in possession of the necessary common attributes or features of the genus.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 12 & 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by D’Halluin et al (1992) Bio/Technology. 10: 309-314 (published 3/1/1992, hereafter D’Halluin).
Claim 12 & 14 are drawn to a Beta vulgaris transgenic plant obtained or obtainable by the method of claim 11 or progeny thereof, or a seed or cell of the plant.
Claims 12 & 14 are product by process claims, which are not limited to the manipulations of the recited steps but only the structure implied by the steps (MPEP 2113(I)). The instant specification does not define “progeny” to be within a specific number of generations or to comprise any distinguishing structural features. The method of claim 11 does not require that the Beta vulgaris plant be inbred or homozygous for the modification or the introduced nucleotide sequence of interest. Because of crossing over and recombination, no shared structure would necessarily be present in progeny or seeds of plants produced by the method of claim 11. Thus, claims 12 & 14 only require a Beta vulgaris plant, seed, or cell, that is transgenic.
D'Halluin discloses transgenic Beta vulgaris plants expressing an ALS gene that are resistant to herbicide (page 309, right column, paragraph 4-page 310, right column, paragraph 1; page 311, left column, paragraph 1). D’Halluin discloses seed set from the transformed plants (page 311, left column, paragraph 4). The S1 progeny carrying transgenes were evaluated in the field and were not damaged due to herbicide application (page 312, left column, paragraph 3-right column, paragraph 2).
The transgenic Beta vulgaris plants of D’Halluin read on the plant obtainable by the method of claim 11 or progeny plant thereof (instant claim 12) and the seeds of D’Halluin read on seeds comprising at least one nucleotide sequence of interest as a transgene (instant claim 14).
Claim(s) 13 & 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Hegelund US 11,266,087 B1 (hereafter Hegelund; patented 3/8/2022 with a U.S. filing date of 10/2/2020 prior to the effective filing date of the instant application).
Claims 13 & 15 are drawn to a modified Beta vulgaris plant obtained or obtainable by the method of claim 11 or progeny thereof, or a seed or cell of the plant. Claim 15 requires that the cell or seed comprises the modification in the genome. Claim 12 & 14 are drawn to a Beta vulgaris transgenic plant obtained or obtainable by the method of claim 11 or progeny thereof, or a seed or cell of the plant.
Claims 12-15 are product by process claims, which are not limited to the manipulations of the recited steps but only the structure implied by the steps (MPEP 2113(I)). The instant specification does not define “progeny” to be within a specific number of generations or to comprise any distinguishing structural features. The method of claim 11 does not require that the Beta vulgaris plant be inbred or homozygous for the modification or the introduced nucleotide sequence of interest. Because of crossing over and recombination, no shared structure would necessarily be present in progeny or seeds of plants produced by the method of claim 11. Thus, claims 13 & 15 only require a modified Beta vulgaris plant, seed, or cell, and, in the case of claim 15, comprises a modification in the genome, while claims 12 & 14 only require a transgenic Beta vulgaris plant, seed, or cell which, in the case of claim 14, comprises the nucleotide sequence of interest as a transgene.
Hegelund discloses a beet plant comprising a single locus conversion, including wherein the single locus conversion confers herbicide resistance and wherein the conversion is introduced into the plant by the methods of Zinc Finger Nuclease technology, genetic transformation, Transcription Activation-Like Effector Nuclease (TALENs) CRISPR/Cas system and DNA guided genome editing (Hegelund claims 20-22). Hegelund describes a single locus conversion as allowing for one or more site specific changes to the plant genome such as nucleotide change, deletions, insertions, and substitutions (column 6, line 57-column 7, line 19). Hegelund defines single locus converted plants as those in which essentially all of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of a plant are recovered in addition to a single locus transferred into the plant via backcrossing or genetic engineering (column 16, lines 58-64).
The beet plant of Hegelund comprising a single locus conversion introduced by DNA guided genome editing reads on a modified Beta vulgaris plant obtainable by the method of claim 11 or progeny plant thereof (instant claim 13) while the plant comprising a single locus conversion introduced by genetic transformation reads on a transgenic Beta vulgaris plant obtained or obtainable by the method of claim 11 (instant claim 12). Because the plants of Hegelund would inherently comprise cells, the plant cells of instant claims 14 & 15 are also anticipated by Hegelund.
Thus, claims 12-15 are anticipated by Hegelund.
Double Patenting
Pursuant to 37 CFR 1.78(f), when two or more applications filed by the same applicant or assignee contain patentably indistinct claims, elimination of such claims from all but one application may be required in the absence of good and sufficient reason for their retention during pendency in more than one application. Applicant is required to either cancel the patentably indistinct claims from all but one application or maintain a clear line of demarcation between the applications. See MPEP § 822.
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-6, 8, 10-12 & 14 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-3 & 5-14 of U.S. Patent No. 12,527,270 (hereafter ‘270).
This is a new rejection based on Applicant’s amendments and the allowance of U.S. Patent No. 12,527,270 (Application No. 18/268,856). Applicant’s remarks filed 2/26/2026 as they pertain to the current rejection have been considered, but they are unpersuasive.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because ‘270 claim 1 is drawn to a method of promoting somatic embryogenesis or organogenesis comprising inducing callus formation from at least one plant cell, introducing into the plant cell an expression cassette comprising the nucleotide sequence of ‘270 SEQ ID NO: 1 or a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of ‘270 SEQ ID NO: 2 operably linked to a heterologous constitutive or inducible regulatory element, and cultivating under conditions promoting growth of embryos or shoots. ‘270 SEQ ID NO: 1 has 100 % sequence identity to instant SEQ ID NO: 1. See first alignment below. ‘270 SEQ ID NO: 2 has 100% sequence identity to instant SEQ ID NO: 2. See second alignment below.
US-18-268-856A-1
Filing date in PALM: 2023-06-21
Sequence 1, US/18268856A
GENERAL INFORMATION
APPLICANT: KWS SAAT SE & CO. KGAA
APPLICANT: STICHTING WAGENINGEN RESEARCH
TITLE OF INVENTION: PROMOTING REGENERATION AND TRANSFORMATION IN PLANTS
FILE REFERENCE: 245761.000212
CURRENT APPLICATION NUMBER: US/18/268,856A
CURRENT FILING DATE: 2023-06-21
PRIOR APPLICATION NUMBER: PCT/EP2021/087315
PRIOR FILING DATE: 2021-12-22
PRIOR APPLICATION NUMBER: EP 20216530.4
PRIOR FILING DATE: 2020-12-22
NUMBER OF SEQ ID NOS: 20
SEQ ID NO 1
LENGTH: 1737
TYPE: DNA
ORGANISM: artificial sequence
FEATURE:
OTHER INFORMATION: cDNA of Brassica napus Babyboom
ALIGNMENT:
Query Match 100.0%; Score 1737; Length 1737;
Best Local Similarity 100.0%;
Matches 1737; Conservative 0; Mismatches 0; Indels 0; Gaps 0;
Qy 1 ATGGATAATAACTGGTTAGGCTTTTCTCTCTCTCCTTATGAACAAAATCACCATCGTAAG 60
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1 ATGGATAATAACTGGTTAGGCTTTTCTCTCTCTCCTTATGAACAAAATCACCATCGTAAG 60
Qy 61 GACGTCTACTCTTCCACCACCACAACCGTCGTAGATGTCGCCGGAGAGTACTGTTACGAT 120
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 61 GACGTCTACTCTTCCACCACCACAACCGTCGTAGATGTCGCCGGAGAGTACTGTTACGAT 120
Qy 121 CCGACCGCTGCCTCCGATGAGTCTTCAGCCATCCAAACATCGTTTCCTTCTCCCTTTGGT 180
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 121 CCGACCGCTGCCTCCGATGAGTCTTCAGCCATCCAAACATCGTTTCCTTCTCCCTTTGGT 180
Qy 181 GTCGTCGTCGATGCTTTCACCAGAGACAACAATAGTCACTCCCGAGATTGGGACATCAAT 240
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 181 GTCGTCGTCGATGCTTTCACCAGAGACAACAATAGTCACTCCCGAGATTGGGACATCAAT 240
Qy 241 GGTTGTGCATGCAATAACATCCACAACGATGAGCAAGATGGACCAAAGCTTGAGAATTTC 300
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 241 GGTTGTGCATGCAATAACATCCACAACGATGAGCAAGATGGACCAAAGCTTGAGAATTTC 300
Qy 301 CTTGGCCGCACCACCACGATTTACAACACCAACGAAAACGTTGGAGATGGAAGTGGAAGT 360
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 301 CTTGGCCGCACCACCACGATTTACAACACCAACGAAAACGTTGGAGATGGAAGTGGAAGT 360
Qy 361 GGCTGTTATGGAGGAGGAGACGGTGGTGGTGGCTCACTAGGACTTTCGATGATAAAGACA 420
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 361 GGCTGTTATGGAGGAGGAGACGGTGGTGGTGGCTCACTAGGACTTTCGATGATAAAGACA 420
Qy 421 TGGCTGAGAAATCAACCCGTGGATAATGTTGATAATCAAGAAAATGGCAATGCTGCAAAA 480
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 421 TGGCTGAGAAATCAACCCGTGGATAATGTTGATAATCAAGAAAATGGCAATGCTGCAAAA 480
Qy 481 GGCCTGTCCCTCTCAATGAACTCATCTACTTCTTGTGATAACAACAACGACAGCAATAAC 540
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 481 GGCCTGTCCCTCTCAATGAACTCATCTACTTCTTGTGATAACAACAACGACAGCAATAAC 540
Qy 541 AACGTTGTTGCCCAAGGGAAGACTATTGATGATAGCGTTGAAGCTACACCGAAGAAAACT 600
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 541 AACGTTGTTGCCCAAGGGAAGACTATTGATGATAGCGTTGAAGCTACACCGAAGAAAACT 600
Qy 601 ATTGAGAGTTTTGGACAGAGGACGTCTATATACCGCGGTGTTACAAGGCATCGGTGGACA 660
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 601 ATTGAGAGTTTTGGACAGAGGACGTCTATATACCGCGGTGTTACAAGGCATCGGTGGACA 660
Qy 661 GGAAGATATGAGGCACATTTATGGGATAATAGTTGTAAAAGAGAAGGCCAAACGCGCAAA 720
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 661 GGAAGATATGAGGCACATTTATGGGATAATAGTTGTAAAAGAGAAGGCCAAACGCGCAAA 720
Qy 721 GGAAGACAAGTTTATTTGGGAGGTTATGACAAAGAAGAAAAAGCAGCTAGGGCTTATGAT 780
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 721 GGAAGACAAGTTTATTTGGGAGGTTATGACAAAGAAGAAAAAGCAGCTAGGGCTTATGAT 780
Qy 781 TTAGCCGCACTCAAGTATTGGGGAACCACCACTACTACTAACTTCCCCATGAGCGAATAT 840
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 781 TTAGCCGCACTCAAGTATTGGGGAACCACCACTACTACTAACTTCCCCATGAGCGAATAT 840
Qy 841 GAAAAAGAGGTAGAAGAGATGAAGCACATGACAAGGCAAGAGTATGTTGCCTCACTGCGC 900
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 841 GAAAAAGAGGTAGAAGAGATGAAGCACATGACAAGGCAAGAGTATGTTGCCTCACTGCGC 900
Qy 901 AGGAAAAGTAGTGGTTTCTCTCGTGGTGCATCGATTTATCGTGGAGTAACAAGACATCAC 960
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 901 AGGAAAAGTAGTGGTTTCTCTCGTGGTGCATCGATTTATCGTGGAGTAACAAGACATCAC 960
Qy 961 CAACATGGAAGATGGCAAGCTAGGATAGGAAGAGTCGCCGGTAACAAAGACCTCTACTTG 1020
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 961 CAACATGGAAGATGGCAAGCTAGGATAGGAAGAGTCGCCGGTAACAAAGACCTCTACTTG 1020
Qy 1021 GGAACTTTTGGCACACAAGAAGAAGCTGCAGAGGCATACGACATTGCGGCCATCAAATTC 1080
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1021 GGAACTTTTGGCACACAAGAAGAAGCTGCAGAGGCATACGACATTGCGGCCATCAAATTC 1080
Qy 1081 AGAGGATTAACCGCAGTGACTAACTTCGACATGAACAGATACAACGTTAAAGCAATCCTC 1140
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1081 AGAGGATTAACCGCAGTGACTAACTTCGACATGAACAGATACAACGTTAAAGCAATCCTC 1140
Qy 1141 GAAAGCCCTAGTCTTCCTATTGGTAGCGCCGCAAAACGTCTCAAGGAGGCTAACCGTCCG 1200
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1141 GAAAGCCCTAGTCTTCCTATTGGTAGCGCCGCAAAACGTCTCAAGGAGGCTAACCGTCCG 1200
Qy 1201 GTTCCAAGTATGATGATGATCAGTAATAACGTTTCAGAGAGTGAGAATAGTGCTAGCGGT 1260
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1201 GTTCCAAGTATGATGATGATCAGTAATAACGTTTCAGAGAGTGAGAATAGTGCTAGCGGT 1260
Qy 1261 TGGCAAAACGCTGCGGTTCAGCATCATCAGGGAGTAGATTTGAGCTTATTGCACCAACAT 1320
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1261 TGGCAAAACGCTGCGGTTCAGCATCATCAGGGAGTAGATTTGAGCTTATTGCACCAACAT 1320
Qy 1321 CAAGAGAGGTACAATGGTTATTATTACAATGGAGGAAACTTGTCTTCGGAGAGTGCTAGG 1380
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1321 CAAGAGAGGTACAATGGTTATTATTACAATGGAGGAAACTTGTCTTCGGAGAGTGCTAGG 1380
Qy 1381 GCTTGTTTCAAACAAGAGGATGATCAACACCATTTCTTGAGCAACACGCAGAGCCTCATG 1440
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1381 GCTTGTTTCAAACAAGAGGATGATCAACACCATTTCTTGAGCAACACGCAGAGCCTCATG 1440
Qy 1441 ACTAATATCGATCATCAAAGTTCTGTTTCGGATGATTCGGTTACTGTTTGTGGAAATGTT 1500
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1441 ACTAATATCGATCATCAAAGTTCTGTTTCGGATGATTCGGTTACTGTTTGTGGAAATGTT 1500
Qy 1501 GTTGGTTATGGTGGTTATCAAGGATTTGCAGCCCCGGTTAACTGCGATGCCTACGCTGCT 1560
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1501 GTTGGTTATGGTGGTTATCAAGGATTTGCAGCCCCGGTTAACTGCGATGCCTACGCTGCT 1560
Qy 1561 AGTGAGTTTGATTATAACGCAAGAAACCATTATTACTTTGCTCAGCAGCAGCAGACCCAG 1620
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1561 AGTGAGTTTGATTATAACGCAAGAAACCATTATTACTTTGCTCAGCAGCAGCAGACCCAG 1620
Qy 1621 CAGTCGCCAGGTGGAGATTTTCCCGCGGCAATGACGAATAATGTTGGCTCTAATATGTAT 1680
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1621 CAGTCGCCAGGTGGAGATTTTCCCGCGGCAATGACGAATAATGTTGGCTCTAATATGTAT 1680
Qy 1681 TACCATGGGGAAGGTGGTGGAGAAGTTGCTCCAACATTTACAGTTTGGAACGACAAT 1737
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1681 TACCATGGGGAAGGTGGTGGAGAAGTTGCTCCAACATTTACAGTTTGGAACGACAAT 1737
US-18-268-856A-2
Filing date in PALM: 2023-06-21
Sequence 2, US/18268856A
GENERAL INFORMATION
APPLICANT: KWS SAAT SE & CO. KGAA
APPLICANT: STICHTING WAGENINGEN RESEARCH
TITLE OF INVENTION: PROMOTING REGENERATION AND TRANSFORMATION IN PLANTS
FILE REFERENCE: 245761.000212
CURRENT APPLICATION NUMBER: US/18/268,856A
CURRENT FILING DATE: 2023-06-21
PRIOR APPLICATION NUMBER: PCT/EP2021/087315
PRIOR FILING DATE: 2021-12-22
PRIOR APPLICATION NUMBER: EP 20216530.4
PRIOR FILING DATE: 2020-12-22
NUMBER OF SEQ ID NOS: 20
SEQ ID NO 2
LENGTH: 579
TYPE: PRT
ORGANISM: Brassica napus
ALIGNMENT:
Query Match 100.0%; Score 3119; Length 579;
Best Local Similarity 100.0%;
Matches 579; Conservative 0; Mismatches 0; Indels 0; Gaps 0;
Qy 1 MDNNWLGFSLSPYEQNHHRKDVYSSTTTTVVDVAGEYCYDPTAASDESSAIQTSFPSPFG 60
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1 MDNNWLGFSLSPYEQNHHRKDVYSSTTTTVVDVAGEYCYDPTAASDESSAIQTSFPSPFG 60
Qy 61 VVVDAFTRDNNSHSRDWDINGCACNNIHNDEQDGPKLENFLGRTTTIYNTNENVGDGSGS 120
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 61 VVVDAFTRDNNSHSRDWDINGCACNNIHNDEQDGPKLENFLGRTTTIYNTNENVGDGSGS 120
Qy 121 GCYGGGDGGGGSLGLSMIKTWLRNQPVDNVDNQENGNAAKGLSLSMNSSTSCDNNNDSNN 180
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 121 GCYGGGDGGGGSLGLSMIKTWLRNQPVDNVDNQENGNAAKGLSLSMNSSTSCDNNNDSNN 180
Qy 181 NVVAQGKTIDDSVEATPKKTIESFGQRTSIYRGVTRHRWTGRYEAHLWDNSCKREGQTRK 240
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 181 NVVAQGKTIDDSVEATPKKTIESFGQRTSIYRGVTRHRWTGRYEAHLWDNSCKREGQTRK 240
Qy 241 GRQVYLGGYDKEEKAARAYDLAALKYWGTTTTTNFPMSEYEKEVEEMKHMTRQEYVASLR 300
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 241 GRQVYLGGYDKEEKAARAYDLAALKYWGTTTTTNFPMSEYEKEVEEMKHMTRQEYVASLR 300
Qy 301 RKSSGFSRGASIYRGVTRHHQHGRWQARIGRVAGNKDLYLGTFGTQEEAAEAYDIAAIKF 360
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 301 RKSSGFSRGASIYRGVTRHHQHGRWQARIGRVAGNKDLYLGTFGTQEEAAEAYDIAAIKF 360
Qy 361 RGLTAVTNFDMNRYNVKAILESPSLPIGSAAKRLKEANRPVPSMMMISNNVSESENSASG 420
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 361 RGLTAVTNFDMNRYNVKAILESPSLPIGSAAKRLKEANRPVPSMMMISNNVSESENSASG 420
Qy 421 WQNAAVQHHQGVDLSLLHQHQERYNGYYYNGGNLSSESARACFKQEDDQHHFLSNTQSLM 480
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 421 WQNAAVQHHQGVDLSLLHQHQERYNGYYYNGGNLSSESARACFKQEDDQHHFLSNTQSLM 480
Qy 481 TNIDHQSSVSDDSVTVCGNVVGYGGYQGFAAPVNCDAYAASEFDYNARNHYYFAQQQQTQ 540
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 481 TNIDHQSSVSDDSVTVCGNVVGYGGYQGFAAPVNCDAYAASEFDYNARNHYYFAQQQQTQ 540
Qy 541 QSPGGDFPAAMTNNVGSNMYYHGEGGGEVAPTFTVWNDN 579
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 541 QSPGGDFPAAMTNNVGSNMYYHGEGGGEVAPTFTVWNDN 579
‘270 claim 2 is drawn to the method wherein the constitutive regulatory element is a constitutive promoter; ‘270 claim 3 is drawn to the method wherein the inducible regulatory element is an inducible promoter. ‘270 claim 5 is drawn to the method wherein the plant cell for callus formation is a somatic or embryonic cell. ‘270 claim 7 is drawn to the method wherein introducing the expression cassette results in a stable integration into the genome of the plant cell. ‘270 claim 8 is drawn to the method wherein embryos are directly grown from the callus and claim 9 is drawn to the method wherein shoots are directly grown from the callus. ‘270 claim 10 is drawn to the method wherein the cultivating step is carried out in a medium free of plant hormones.
‘270 claim 11 is drawn to the method further comprising introducing at least one nucleotide sequence of interest into the plant cell, modifying the genome of the plant cell by introducing into the cell a single stranded or double stranded DNA break inducing enzyme and optionally a repair nucleic acid molecule. ‘270 claim 12 is drawn to the method further comprising a step of introducing into the plant cell a nucleotide sequence of interest, modifying the genome of the plant cell by introducing a single stranded NA break or double stranded DNA break inducing enzyme and optionally a repair nucleic acid molecule, and regenerating a plant from the transgenic plant.
‘270 claim 13 is drawn to a transgenic plant or a modified plant obtained or obtainable by the method of claim 12 and ‘270 claim 14 is drawn to a plant cell or seed of the plant of claim 13 comprising the nucleotide sequence of interest.
‘270 claim 6 is drawn to the method of ‘270 claim 1 wherein the plant cell is from Beta vulgaris, Zea mays, or Spinacia oleracea.
Although ‘270 claims 1-3, 5, 8-14 do not require that the plant cell be Beta vulgaris, in light of ‘270 claim 6 it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use a Beta vulgaris plant cell in the methods of claims 1-3, 5, & 8-12 resulting in the plant of claims 13-14. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to use a Beta vulgaris plant cell, because that is one of only three species provided by ‘270 claim 6. Additionally, although ‘270 claim 1 does not specify that the cultivating step is in a medium free of plant hormones, ‘270 claim 10 does provide this limitation, so it would have been obvious to perform the method of ‘270 claim 1 in a medium free of plant hormones.
The instant specification defines “plant hormone” as a chemical that influences the growth and development of plant cells and tissues (page 10, lines 29-30). However, the specification continues in the next two sentences to specify that plant growth hormones comprise chemicals from the groups of auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid and ethylene as well as brassinosteroids and polyamines (page 10, lines 30-34). Because sodium nitroprusside does not belong to one of those groups, is not required as part of the cultivating step in the method of ‘270, and does not prevent ‘270 claim 10 from encompassing a method of cultivating in a medium free of plant hormone, sodium nitroprusside is not interpreted to be a plant hormone for the purposes of examination. See also the claim interpretation section above.
Instant claim 1 requires seedlings derived from embryos cultivated on the medium free of plant hormones developed a normal root system whereas shoots cultivated on media with plant hormones had no roots (lines 39-41). However, this limitation represents an intended result of the active steps of the method of claim 1. A "‘whereby clause in a method claim is not given weight when it simply expresses the intended result of a process step positively recited.’" Id. (quoting Minton v. Nat’l Ass’n of Securities Dealers, Inc., 336 F.3d 1373, 1381, 67 USPQ2d 1614, 1620 (Fed. Cir. 2003)). MPEP 2111.04(I).
Thus, instant claims 1-6, 8, 10-12 & 14 are obvious in view of ‘270 claims 1-3 & 5-14.
Applicant urges that the amendments presented herein render the rejection moot (Remarks, page 11, paragraphs 2-3).
This argument is unpersuasive, because the amendments to claim 1 of a “wherein” clause representing an intended result does not render the claims non-obvious over U.S. Patent No. 12,527,270.
Claims 1-6, 8, 10-12 & 14 are provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-3 & 5-14 of copending Application No. 19/450,453 (reference application, hereafter ‘453).
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because ‘453 claim 1 is drawn to a method of promoting somatic embryogenesis or organogenesis comprising inducing callus formation from at least one plant cell, introducing into the plant cell an expression cassette comprising the nucleotide sequence of ‘453 SEQ ID NO: 1 and a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of ‘453 SEQ ID NO: 2 operably linked to a heterologous constitutive or inducible regulatory element, and cultivating under conditions promoting growth of embryos or shoots. ‘453 SEQ ID NO: 1 has 100 % sequence identity to instant SEQ ID NO: 1. See first alignment below. ‘453 SEQ ID NO: 2 has 100% sequence identity to instant SEQ ID NO: 2. See second alignment below.
Sequence 1, US/19450453
GENERAL INFORMATION
APPLICANT: KWS SAAT SE & CO. KGAA (en)
TITLE OF INVENTION: PROMOTING REGENERATION AND TRANSFORMATION IN PLANTS (en)
FILE REFERENCE: 245761.000267
CURRENT APPLICATION NUMBER: US/19/450,453
CURRENT FILING DATE: 2026-01-15
NUMBER OF SEQ ID NOS: 20
SEQ ID NO 1
LENGTH: 1737
TYPE: DNA
FEATURE:
NAME/KEY: misc_feature
LOCATION: 1..1737
QUALIFIERS: note = cDNA of Brassica napus Babyboom
FEATURE:
NAME/KEY: source
LOCATION: 1..1737
QUALIFIERS: mol_type = other DNA
organism = synthetic construct
Query Match 100.0%; Score 1737; Length 1737;
Best Local Similarity 100.0%;
Matches 1737; Conservative 0; Mismatches 0; Indels 0; Gaps 0;
Qy 1 ATGGATAATAACTGGTTAGGCTTTTCTCTCTCTCCTTATGAACAAAATCACCATCGTAAG 60
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1 ATGGATAATAACTGGTTAGGCTTTTCTCTCTCTCCTTATGAACAAAATCACCATCGTAAG 60
Qy 61 GACGTCTACTCTTCCACCACCACAACCGTCGTAGATGTCGCCGGAGAGTACTGTTACGAT 120
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 61 GACGTCTACTCTTCCACCACCACAACCGTCGTAGATGTCGCCGGAGAGTACTGTTACGAT 120
Qy 121 CCGACCGCTGCCTCCGATGAGTCTTCAGCCATCCAAACATCGTTTCCTTCTCCCTTTGGT 180
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 121 CCGACCGCTGCCTCCGATGAGTCTTCAGCCATCCAAACATCGTTTCCTTCTCCCTTTGGT 180
Qy 181 GTCGTCGTCGATGCTTTCACCAGAGACAACAATAGTCACTCCCGAGATTGGGACATCAAT 240
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 181 GTCGTCGTCGATGCTTTCACCAGAGACAACAATAGTCACTCCCGAGATTGGGACATCAAT 240
Qy 241 GGTTGTGCATGCAATAACATCCACAACGATGAGCAAGATGGACCAAAGCTTGAGAATTTC 300
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 241 GGTTGTGCATGCAATAACATCCACAACGATGAGCAAGATGGACCAAAGCTTGAGAATTTC 300
Qy 301 CTTGGCCGCACCACCACGATTTACAACACCAACGAAAACGTTGGAGATGGAAGTGGAAGT 360
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 301 CTTGGCCGCACCACCACGATTTACAACACCAACGAAAACGTTGGAGATGGAAGTGGAAGT 360
Qy 361 GGCTGTTATGGAGGAGGAGACGGTGGTGGTGGCTCACTAGGACTTTCGATGATAAAGACA 420
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 361 GGCTGTTATGGAGGAGGAGACGGTGGTGGTGGCTCACTAGGACTTTCGATGATAAAGACA 420
Qy 421 TGGCTGAGAAATCAACCCGTGGATAATGTTGATAATCAAGAAAATGGCAATGCTGCAAAA 480
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 421 TGGCTGAGAAATCAACCCGTGGATAATGTTGATAATCAAGAAAATGGCAATGCTGCAAAA 480
Qy 481 GGCCTGTCCCTCTCAATGAACTCATCTACTTCTTGTGATAACAACAACGACAGCAATAAC 540
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 481 GGCCTGTCCCTCTCAATGAACTCATCTACTTCTTGTGATAACAACAACGACAGCAATAAC 540
Qy 541 AACGTTGTTGCCCAAGGGAAGACTATTGATGATAGCGTTGAAGCTACACCGAAGAAAACT 600
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 541 AACGTTGTTGCCCAAGGGAAGACTATTGATGATAGCGTTGAAGCTACACCGAAGAAAACT 600
Qy 601 ATTGAGAGTTTTGGACAGAGGACGTCTATATACCGCGGTGTTACAAGGCATCGGTGGACA 660
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 601 ATTGAGAGTTTTGGACAGAGGACGTCTATATACCGCGGTGTTACAAGGCATCGGTGGACA 660
Qy 661 GGAAGATATGAGGCACATTTATGGGATAATAGTTGTAAAAGAGAAGGCCAAACGCGCAAA 720
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 661 GGAAGATATGAGGCACATTTATGGGATAATAGTTGTAAAAGAGAAGGCCAAACGCGCAAA 720
Qy 721 GGAAGACAAGTTTATTTGGGAGGTTATGACAAAGAAGAAAAAGCAGCTAGGGCTTATGAT 780
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 721 GGAAGACAAGTTTATTTGGGAGGTTATGACAAAGAAGAAAAAGCAGCTAGGGCTTATGAT 780
Qy 781 TTAGCCGCACTCAAGTATTGGGGAACCACCACTACTACTAACTTCCCCATGAGCGAATAT 840
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 781 TTAGCCGCACTCAAGTATTGGGGAACCACCACTACTACTAACTTCCCCATGAGCGAATAT 840
Qy 841 GAAAAAGAGGTAGAAGAGATGAAGCACATGACAAGGCAAGAGTATGTTGCCTCACTGCGC 900
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 841 GAAAAAGAGGTAGAAGAGATGAAGCACATGACAAGGCAAGAGTATGTTGCCTCACTGCGC 900
Qy 901 AGGAAAAGTAGTGGTTTCTCTCGTGGTGCATCGATTTATCGTGGAGTAACAAGACATCAC 960
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 901 AGGAAAAGTAGTGGTTTCTCTCGTGGTGCATCGATTTATCGTGGAGTAACAAGACATCAC 960
Qy 961 CAACATGGAAGATGGCAAGCTAGGATAGGAAGAGTCGCCGGTAACAAAGACCTCTACTTG 1020
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 961 CAACATGGAAGATGGCAAGCTAGGATAGGAAGAGTCGCCGGTAACAAAGACCTCTACTTG 1020
Qy 1021 GGAACTTTTGGCACACAAGAAGAAGCTGCAGAGGCATACGACATTGCGGCCATCAAATTC 1080
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1021 GGAACTTTTGGCACACAAGAAGAAGCTGCAGAGGCATACGACATTGCGGCCATCAAATTC 1080
Qy 1081 AGAGGATTAACCGCAGTGACTAACTTCGACATGAACAGATACAACGTTAAAGCAATCCTC 1140
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1081 AGAGGATTAACCGCAGTGACTAACTTCGACATGAACAGATACAACGTTAAAGCAATCCTC 1140
Qy 1141 GAAAGCCCTAGTCTTCCTATTGGTAGCGCCGCAAAACGTCTCAAGGAGGCTAACCGTCCG 1200
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1141 GAAAGCCCTAGTCTTCCTATTGGTAGCGCCGCAAAACGTCTCAAGGAGGCTAACCGTCCG 1200
Qy 1201 GTTCCAAGTATGATGATGATCAGTAATAACGTTTCAGAGAGTGAGAATAGTGCTAGCGGT 1260
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1201 GTTCCAAGTATGATGATGATCAGTAATAACGTTTCAGAGAGTGAGAATAGTGCTAGCGGT 1260
Qy 1261 TGGCAAAACGCTGCGGTTCAGCATCATCAGGGAGTAGATTTGAGCTTATTGCACCAACAT 1320
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1261 TGGCAAAACGCTGCGGTTCAGCATCATCAGGGAGTAGATTTGAGCTTATTGCACCAACAT 1320
Qy 1321 CAAGAGAGGTACAATGGTTATTATTACAATGGAGGAAACTTGTCTTCGGAGAGTGCTAGG 1380
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1321 CAAGAGAGGTACAATGGTTATTATTACAATGGAGGAAACTTGTCTTCGGAGAGTGCTAGG 1380
Qy 1381 GCTTGTTTCAAACAAGAGGATGATCAACACCATTTCTTGAGCAACACGCAGAGCCTCATG 1440
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1381 GCTTGTTTCAAACAAGAGGATGATCAACACCATTTCTTGAGCAACACGCAGAGCCTCATG 1440
Qy 1441 ACTAATATCGATCATCAAAGTTCTGTTTCGGATGATTCGGTTACTGTTTGTGGAAATGTT 1500
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1441 ACTAATATCGATCATCAAAGTTCTGTTTCGGATGATTCGGTTACTGTTTGTGGAAATGTT 1500
Qy 1501 GTTGGTTATGGTGGTTATCAAGGATTTGCAGCCCCGGTTAACTGCGATGCCTACGCTGCT 1560
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1501 GTTGGTTATGGTGGTTATCAAGGATTTGCAGCCCCGGTTAACTGCGATGCCTACGCTGCT 1560
Qy 1561 AGTGAGTTTGATTATAACGCAAGAAACCATTATTACTTTGCTCAGCAGCAGCAGACCCAG 1620
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1561 AGTGAGTTTGATTATAACGCAAGAAACCATTATTACTTTGCTCAGCAGCAGCAGACCCAG 1620
Qy 1621 CAGTCGCCAGGTGGAGATTTTCCCGCGGCAATGACGAATAATGTTGGCTCTAATATGTAT 1680
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1621 CAGTCGCCAGGTGGAGATTTTCCCGCGGCAATGACGAATAATGTTGGCTCTAATATGTAT 1680
Qy 1681 TACCATGGGGAAGGTGGTGGAGAAGTTGCTCCAACATTTACAGTTTGGAACGACAAT 1737
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1681 TACCATGGGGAAGGTGGTGGAGAAGTTGCTCCAACATTTACAGTTTGGAACGACAAT 1737
Sequence 2, US/19450453
GENERAL INFORMATION
APPLICANT: KWS SAAT SE & CO. KGAA (en)
TITLE OF INVENTION: PROMOTING REGENERATION AND TRANSFORMATION IN PLANTS (en)
FILE REFERENCE: 245761.000267
CURRENT APPLICATION NUMBER: US/19/450,453
CURRENT FILING DATE: 2026-01-15
NUMBER OF SEQ ID NOS: 20
SEQ ID NO 2
LENGTH: 579
TYPE: PRT
FEATURE:
NAME/KEY: source
LOCATION: 1..579
QUALIFIERS: mol_type = protein
organism = Brassica napus
Query Match 100.0%; Score 3119; Length 579;
Best Local Similarity 100.0%;
Matches 579; Conservative 0; Mismatches 0; Indels 0; Gaps 0;
Qy 1 MDNNWLGFSLSPYEQNHHRKDVYSSTTTTVVDVAGEYCYDPTAASDESSAIQTSFPSPFG 60
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1 MDNNWLGFSLSPYEQNHHRKDVYSSTTTTVVDVAGEYCYDPTAASDESSAIQTSFPSPFG 60
Qy 61 VVVDAFTRDNNSHSRDWDINGCACNNIHNDEQDGPKLENFLGRTTTIYNTNENVGDGSGS 120
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 61 VVVDAFTRDNNSHSRDWDINGCACNNIHNDEQDGPKLENFLGRTTTIYNTNENVGDGSGS 120
Qy 121 GCYGGGDGGGGSLGLSMIKTWLRNQPVDNVDNQENGNAAKGLSLSMNSSTSCDNNNDSNN 180
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 121 GCYGGGDGGGGSLGLSMIKTWLRNQPVDNVDNQENGNAAKGLSLSMNSSTSCDNNNDSNN 180
Qy 181 NVVAQGKTIDDSVEATPKKTIESFGQRTSIYRGVTRHRWTGRYEAHLWDNSCKREGQTRK 240
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 181 NVVAQGKTIDDSVEATPKKTIESFGQRTSIYRGVTRHRWTGRYEAHLWDNSCKREGQTRK 240
Qy 241 GRQVYLGGYDKEEKAARAYDLAALKYWGTTTTTNFPMSEYEKEVEEMKHMTRQEYVASLR 300
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 241 GRQVYLGGYDKEEKAARAYDLAALKYWGTTTTTNFPMSEYEKEVEEMKHMTRQEYVASLR 300
Qy 301 RKSSGFSRGASIYRGVTRHHQHGRWQARIGRVAGNKDLYLGTFGTQEEAAEAYDIAAIKF 360
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 301 RKSSGFSRGASIYRGVTRHHQHGRWQARIGRVAGNKDLYLGTFGTQEEAAEAYDIAAIKF 360
Qy 361 RGLTAVTNFDMNRYNVKAILESPSLPIGSAAKRLKEANRPVPSMMMISNNVSESENSASG 420
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 361 RGLTAVTNFDMNRYNVKAILESPSLPIGSAAKRLKEANRPVPSMMMISNNVSESENSASG 420
Qy 421 WQNAAVQHHQGVDLSLLHQHQERYNGYYYNGGNLSSESARACFKQEDDQHHFLSNTQSLM 480
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 421 WQNAAVQHHQGVDLSLLHQHQERYNGYYYNGGNLSSESARACFKQEDDQHHFLSNTQSLM 480
Qy 481 TNIDHQSSVSDDSVTVCGNVVGYGGYQGFAAPVNCDAYAASEFDYNARNHYYFAQQQQTQ 540
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 481 TNIDHQSSVSDDSVTVCGNVVGYGGYQGFAAPVNCDAYAASEFDYNARNHYYFAQQQQTQ 540
Qy 541 QSPGGDFPAAMTNNVGSNMYYHGEGGGEVAPTFTVWNDN 579
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 541 QSPGGDFPAAMTNNVGSNMYYHGEGGGEVAPTFTVWNDN 579
‘453 claim 2 is drawn to the method wherein the constitutive regulatory element is a constitutive promoter; ‘453 claim 3 is drawn to the method wherein the inducible regulatory element is an inducible promoter. ‘453 claim 5 is drawn to the method wherein the plant cell for callus formation is a somatic or embryonic cell. ‘453 claim 7 is drawn to the method wherein introducing the expression cassette results in a stable integration into the genome of the plant cell. ‘453 claim 8 is drawn to the method wherein embryos are directly grown from the callus and claim 9 is drawn to the method wherein shoots are directly grown from the callus. ‘453 claim 10 is drawn to the method wherein the cultivating step is carried out in a medium free of plant hormones.
‘453 claim 11 is drawn to the method further comprising introducing at least one nucleotide sequence of interest into the plant cell, modifying the genome of the plant cell by introducing into the cell a single stranded or double stranded DNA break inducing enzyme and optionally a repair nucleic acid molecule. ‘453 claim 12 is drawn to the method further comprising a step of introducing into the plant cell a nucleotide sequence of interest, modifying the genome of the plant cell by introducing a single stranded NA break or double stranded DNA break inducing enzyme and optionally a repair nucleic acid molecule, and regenerating a plant from the transgenic plant.
‘453 claim 13 is drawn to a transgenic plant or a modified plant obtained or obtainable by the method of claim 12 and ‘453 claim 14 is drawn to a plant cell or seed of the plant of claim 13 comprising the nucleotide sequence of interest.
‘453 claim 6 is drawn to the method of ‘453 claim 1 wherein the plant cell is from Beta vulgaris, Zea mays, or Spinacia oleracea.
Although ‘453 claims 1-3, 5, 8-14 do not require that the plant cell be Beta vulgaris, in light of ‘453 claim 6 it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use a Beta vulgaris plant cell in the methods of claims 1-3, 5, & 8-12 resulting in the plant of claims 13-14. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to use a Beta vulgaris plant cell, because that is one of only three species provided by ‘453 claim 6. Additionally, although ‘453 claim 1 does not specify that the cultivating step is in a medium free of plant hormones, ‘453 claim 10 does provide this limitation, so it would have been obvious to perform the method of ‘453 claim 1 in a medium free of plant hormones.
The instant specification defines “plant hormone” as a chemical that influences the growth and development of plant cells and tissues (page 10, lines 29-30). However, the specification continues in the next two sentences to specify that plant growth hormones comprise chemicals from the groups of auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid and ethylene as well as brassinosteroids and polyamines (page 10, lines 30-34). Because sodium nitroprusside does not belong to one of those groups, is not required as part of the cultivating step in the method of ‘453, and does not prevent ‘453 claim 10 from encompassing a method of cultivating in a medium free of plant hormone, sodium nitroprusside is not interpreted to be a plant hormone for the purposes of examination. See also the claim interpretation section above.
Instant claim 1 requires seedlings derived from embryos cultivated on the medium free of plant hormones developed a normal root system whereas shoots cultivated on media with plant hormones had no roots (lines 39-41). However, this limitation represents an intended result of the active steps of the method of claim 1. A "‘whereby clause in a method claim is not given weight when it simply expresses the intended result of a process step positively recited.’" Id. (quoting Minton v. Nat’l Ass’n of Securities Dealers, Inc., 336 F.3d 1373, 1381, 67 USPQ2d 1614, 1620 (Fed. Cir. 2003)). MPEP 2111.04(I).
Thus, instant claims 1-6, 8, 10-12 & 14 are obvious in view of ‘453 claims 1-3 & 5-14.
This is a provisional nonstatutory double patenting rejection because the patentably indistinct claims have not in fact been patented.
Conclusion
No claims are allowed.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Victoria L DeLeo whose telephone number is (703)756-5998. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00am-4pm EDT.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Bratislav Stankovic can be reached at (571) 270-0305. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/VICTORIA L DELEO/Examiner, Art Unit 1662
/Anne Kubelik/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1663
Prosecution Insights