<p style="text-align: justify;">The intended effect of the modification in 305423 soybean is to produce soybean seeds with increased levels of monounsaturated fatty acid (oleic) and decreased levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic). To accomplish this objective, Pioneer inserted a fragment of the soybean microsomal omega-6 desaturase gene (<i>FAD2-1</i>) into soybean. The fragment of the <i>FAD2-1</i> gene does not code for a protein. Transcription of the gene fragment under the control of a seed-preferred KTi3 promoter acts to silence the expression of the endogenous soybean omega-6 desaturase, which results in an increased level of oleic acid and decreased levels of linoleic and linolenic acids in the soybean seed. A gene (<i>gm-hra</i>) encoding a modified version of the soybean acetolactate synthase (<i>als</i> gene) that confers tolerance to a sulfonylurea herbicide was used as a selectable marker for the transformation. The 305423 soybean will be commercialized for the production of TREUS&trade; brand high oleic soybean oil. The food service industry and food processors will benefit from the fact that high oleic soybean oil is a highly stable vegetable oil that is suitable for frying applications without the need for hydrogenation. In the industrial sector, high oleic soybean oil will offer an ingredient that is stable to oxidation for the formulation of cost effective, renewable, environmentally friendly industrial fluids.</p>
