Gene editing in Brassica napus for basic research and trait development

The genome of Brassica napus L. is the result of several polyploidization events that occurred during the history of B. napus. Due to its relatively short domestication history, diversity is relatively limited. An increasing number of loci in this crop’s genome have been gene-edited using various technologies and reagent delivery methods for basic research as well as for trait development. New alleles have been developed as edits in single, 2, 4, or more homologous loci in this important oilseed crop. This comprehensive review will summarize new alleles that have been developed as they relate to weed control, flowering, self-incompatibility, plant hormone biology, disease resistance, grain composition, and pod shatter reduction. These new alleles have significantly augmented our understanding of both plant growth and development for basic research as well as for their potential commercial impacts.

Personality trait stability and change

Personality traits continue to change throughout the lifespan. However, we still know little about when, why, and how personality traits change. In this paper, we review the current state of scientific evidence regarding the nature, sources, and processes of personality trait stability and change. We revisit past disputes over the relative importance of genetic and environmental influences, discuss studies on life events and personality trait development, and summarize theory and research on personality change processes. In doing so, we derive general principles of personality trait development, highlight limitations of past research, and present the broad outlines for future research on personality trait development, with a particular emphasis on relevant methodological issues and conceptual challenges.

The Principles of Personality Trait Development and Their Relation to Psychopathology

This chapter reviews five empirically supported principles of personality development: cumulative continuity (i.e., increasing trait stability across development), maturity (i.e., persons grow more socially adapted across development), social investment (i.e., commitment to socially conventional roles promotes maturity), corresponsiveness (i.e., persons choose environments that support their personalities), and plasticity (i.e., personality change can occur throughout the life course). Evidence for each of these principles is reviewed. Finally, implications for psychopathology are drawn.

Personality Across the Life Span

Trait stability and maturation are fundamental principles of contemporary personality psychology and have been shown to hold across many cultures. However, it has proven difficult to move beyond these general findings to a detailed account of trait development. There are pervasive and unexplained inconsistencies across studies that may be due to ( a) insufficient attention to measurement error, ( b) subtle but age-sensitive differences in alternative measures of the same trait, or ( c) different perspectives reflected in self-reports and observer ratings. Multiscale, multimethod—and ideally multinational—studies are needed. Several hypotheses have been proposed to account for trait stability and change, but supporting evidence is currently weak or indirect; trait development is a fertile if sometimes frustrating field for theory and research. Beyond traits, there are approaches to personality development that are of interest to students of adult development, and these may be fruitfully addressed from a trait perspective.