Core Insights - The research team from Anhui Agricultural University and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has identified a key gene, GmSop20, that regulates the oil-to-protein ratio in soybean seeds, providing new directions for breeding high-oil or high-protein soybean varieties [1][2] Group 1: Research Findings - Soybeans are a crucial global oil and protein crop, with the challenge of balancing oil and protein content to meet different processing needs being vital for the high-quality development of the soybean industry [1] - The study utilized whole-genome association analysis and whole-transcriptome association analysis to identify GmSop20 on chromosome 20, which plays a significant role in regulating the balance of oil and protein in soybeans [1][2] Group 2: Gene Functionality - GmSop20 acts as a "traffic commander" by directly activating the expression of sugar transport protein genes GmSWEET10a/10b, thereby regulating the transport of photosynthetic products from the seed coat to the embryo [2] - The allele GmSop20C was selectively chosen during soybean domestication, increasing the oil-to-protein ratio from 0.35 in wild soybeans to 0.47 in cultivated varieties [2] Group 3: Practical Applications - The knockout of GmSop20 in high-protein soybean varieties reduced the oil-to-protein ratio from 0.24 to 0.19, while overexpressing GmSop20 in high-oil varieties increased the ratio from 0.57 to 0.64, demonstrating its strong bidirectional regulatory capability [2] - The research team has successfully developed a new soybean variety with a protein content of up to 54%, indicating a promising application for both edible oil processing companies and tofu manufacturers [2]