He is recognized for his work on the development of cereal endosperm and research on foods with increased nutritional content[3][4]and for leading Norway´s contribution to the sequencing of bread wheat chromosome 7B as part of the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium where Olsen´s group at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences sequenced chromosome 7B.[5][6]
This work has been described in international science media, such as Nature,The Atlantic, Phys.org and Science and Aftenposten as a key step toward understanding the wheat genome[7][8][9] and helping scientists develop better, more resilient and potentially less allergenic crop varieties, with possible long-term benefits for global food security.[10][11][12]
Olsen's team identified hundreds of wheat genes, including many linked to allergenic proteins, highlighting the potential for improved crop varieties.[7] The wheat genome sequencing project — including contributions from Olsen's group — was reported in Nature as a breakthrough in understanding the complex history and structure of bread wheat's genome.[13] Olsen is a professor emeritus at NMBU.[14]
Over a decades of research work Olsen´s work had impact shown through scholarly citations [15][16] and public coverage.
Odd-Arne Olsen is educated in genetics from the University of Oslo (UiO) with a PhD in agricultural science from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NLH now NMBU). He worked in the Norwegian biotechnology program at UiO and NLH for a decade, and from 2001 at the companies Pioneer Hi-Bred DuPont and Monsanto in the USA, before returning to the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU).[17][18][19]
Books and Science Communication
He is the editor of Endosperm: Developmental and Molecular Biology, a comprehensive volume on cereal endosperm published by Springer.[citation needed][20]
He is also the author of the book På genjakt etter mer og bedre mat (2024)[21], which provides a comprehensive overview of plant biotechnology, including methods of genetic modification and gene editing, with examples drawn from industrial applications and research history in Norway and internationally.[22][23][24]
Olsen´s research focused on the development of cereal endosperm.[31][32] including the genetic regulation of aleurone cell development, the role of the cytoskeleton in endosperm morphogenesis.[33] Olsen and his collaborators demonstrated that ADP-glucose for starch synthesis in barley endosperm is produced in the cytosol rather than in the amyloplasts, a discovery that later formed the basis for patents.[34][35] He also led studies that revealed the essential role of DEK1 in several developmental processes, including in the moss Physcomitrium patens.[36]
Olsen´s research group at NMBU contributed to the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium by sequencing wheat chromosome 7B in collaboration with Graminor and several national and international partners.[37] Using the new reference genome, Olsen´s research group mapped seed-borne allergens and immunoresponsive proteins across bread wheat´s 21 chromosomes[38] and provided light on the origin of wheat [39] and characterized transcriptome of wheat endosperm.[40]
Olsen is also a co-inventor on several patents in plant biotechnology.[41][42] In collaboration with Danisco A/S, Olsen is co-inventor on a patent for transgenic plants, including genetically modified potatoes that contain integrated nucleotide sequences enabling the production of specific sugar derivatives from sucrose within plant cells, a tool used in plant biotechnology research involving crop metabolic engineering.[43][44]
He also collaborated with Pioneer Hi-Bred International on a gene expression system and was co-inventor of a patent for an aleurone-tissue-specific promoter (LTP2), which directs gene expression in the aleurone layer of developing cereal seeds such as maize, rice and barley and can be applied in research involving tissue-specific expression of genes in crop plants.[45] He now serves as Professor emeritus at NMBU.[citation needed][46][47]
↑biovitenskap, Universitetet for miljø-og; Solem, Trond (2008-06-03). "- Genmaten vil komme". www.forskning.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2025-12-16.
↑Hagen, Jon Georg (2008-09-04). "Forgiftet av GMO-mat". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2025-12-16.
↑US5525716A,Olsen, Odd-Arne&Kalla, Roger,"LPT2 promoter having aleurone-tissue-specific activity",issued 1996-06-11
↑US6031152A,Olsen, Odd-Arne; Kalla, Roger& Linnestad, Casper,"Promoter from a lipid transfer protein gene",issued 2000-02-29
↑US5977437A,Villand, Per; Kleczkowski, Leszek& Olsen, Odd-Arneet al.,"Transgenic plants or algae expressing an AGP enzyme coupled to a transit peptide",issued 1999-11-02
↑Olsen, Av Odd-Arne; Plantevitenskap, prof emeritus Institutt for; NMBU; Plantevitenskap, Åsmund Bjørnstad prof emeritus Institutt for; Graminor, NMBU og Muath Alsheikh Forskningssjef; Plantevitenskap, Institutt for; NMBU (2024-01-25). "Naturen «genredigerer» plantene våre hele tiden". Nationen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2025-12-11.
↑US5525716A,Olsen, Odd-Arne&Kalla, Roger,"LPT2 promoter having aleurone-tissue-specific activity",issued 1996-06-11
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