Release time: August 14, 2025 | Information source: Industry and Commerce Herald

Recently, at Hefei Shenbi Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Shenbi Bio) in the Zhongan Chuanggu Science and Technology Park of Hefei High-tech Zone, scientific researchers used gene editing technology to introduce the luminescent genes of fireflies, luminous mushrooms and other organisms into plant cells, allowing the plants to emit high-brightness light visible to the naked eye at night, depicting a fantastic picture of the plant world.

Technological breakthrough opens new door to gene editing

In the past, artificially cultivated luminescent plants were as weak as fireflies, making it difficult to meet the needs of scientific research observation and landscape decoration. Now, when night falls, the self-luminous plant developed by Shenbi Biotechnology can already shine with eye-catching light - the first high-brightness self-luminous plant in the country, like a stone thrown into the lake, causing ripples in the field of plant gene editing, not only filling the domestic technology gap, but also showing China's innovation business card on the international stage.

It is understood that the scientific research team has gone through 532 technical iterations and overcome multiple technical difficulties. The biggest challenge is how to make plants glow visible to the naked eye. "We have successfully achieved high-throughput expression of foreign genes in plant cells, breaking through the original limitations." Li Renhan, the company's founder, said that the scientific research team also optimized the enzymes in the reaction process to improve the efficiency of the enzymes, superimposed multiple genes at the same time, and changed the plant's own limiting genes, ultimately allowing the plant to reach a high-brightness state visible to the naked eye.

Compared with similar international products, Shenbi Bio's luminous plants have obvious advantages in brightness. "Our plants do not require long-term camera exposure, and the luminous effect can be quickly seen with the naked eye in a dark environment." Li Renhan said.

Capital empowerment, technology application prospects are broad

Breakthrough technological achievements quickly attracted the attention of capital. The tens of millions of financing from investment institutions such as Meihua Venture Capital are like spring rain, which has greatly nourished the fertile ground for the growth of Shenbi Biology. Today, this young company has built a full industry chain network from R&D to sales, with innovative vitality surging in every link.

In the R&D center, gene sequencers run day and night, and scientific researchers are trying to graft luminescence technology onto more plant species such as succulents and ferns. In the standardized production base, smart greenhouses accurately control light and humidity, and each gene-edited plant thrives under careful care. The sales team travels with samples to various places, reaching cooperation with scientific research institutions, gardening companies, and science popularization venues, so that these luminous plants can enter more scenes.

At present, Shenbi Biology has successfully achieved high-brightness self-luminescence on a variety of plants, including sunflowers, and is expanding its luminescence technology for other flower species.

"This technology has broad application prospects and may change the nighttime landscape of future cities." Li Renhan said that luminous plants can be used for home decoration, children's night lights, and even park greening and municipal road greening.

Breaking the rules and establishing "Hefei Creation" to emerge

Shenbi Bio's luminescent plants not only light up the city at night, but also illuminate China's breakthrough in the field of plant gene editing, giving China more say in the global field of plant gene editing.

This innovation has also allowed the company to successfully join the list of key industrial chain projects in HKUST Silicon Valley. With the support of policies and resources, Shenbi Biotechnology is becoming a prominent part of the biotechnology industry cluster in Hefei High-tech Zone, injecting fresh energy into regional industrial upgrading. "This soil understands the value of innovation best." said the person in charge of the relevant departments of Hefei High-tech Zone. "From the laboratory to the industrial park, we have escorted technology companies like Shenbi Biotech all the way. We hope to make more 'Hefei Creations' stand out on the international stage and make biotechnology a new engine for regional development."

At night in the Zhongan Chuanggu Science and Technology Park, in front of the experimental window of Shenbi Biology, the self-luminous plant flickered quietly. It is not only a vivid example of cutting-edge biotechnology achievements, but also clearly shows that this high-tech enterprise located in Hefei has used its unremitting innovative spirit as a "pen" to write a new coordinate for Anhui enterprises.

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