Yoichi Honda, PhD, Professor, Kyoto University, Member of the WSMBMP Council

 After getting the Ph.D degree in Kyoto University on a topic of DNA replication control, he started to work on molecular genetics of mushrooms, especially a white-rot fungus, Pleurotus ostreatus in 1993. He has developed a genetic transformation and recombinant gene expression systems and identified genes for lignin degradation or spore formation by cooperation with his colleagues. International collaborations with researchers from UK, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Georgia, Armenia, Israel, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan, China, Korea have been conducted during his carrier. In these years, his team has been concentrated to develop a safe and efficient CRISPR/Cas9 technology in mushrooms. His interests include development of molecular genetic tools and their utilization for basic and applied studies, such as non-GM genome editing, molecular breeding of sporeless cultivars, biopharmaceuticals production and new mycelial materials using edited mushrooms, in view of developing a sustainable society.