Transformative technology leads the next generation of precision crop improvement

ST. LOUIS, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Danforth Technology Company (DTC) today announced the launch of Spearhead Bio, a startup pioneering a breakthrough platform to enhance the efficiency of crop genome engineering by harnessing the plant’s own natural DNA. Spearhead’s Transposase Assisted Homology Independent Targeted Insertion (TAHITI) technology allows the seamless integration of genes into both transgenic and non-transgenic crops.

“Our goal is to unlock the full potential of plant genetics using the tools nature already provides,” said Spearhead Bio Founder and Chief Scientific Officer Keith Slotkin, PhD. “By engineering the plant’s own genome-editing machinery, we’re creating a faster, cleaner and more predictable path to crop improvement.” Slotkin is a Danforth Center Principal Investigator and the inventor of the TAHITI system.

DTC CEO Tom Laurita will serve as CEO of Spearhead Bio. “CRISPR gene editing holds the promise to fundamentally change how we do crop breeding,” said Laurita. “It is a genome ‘scissors’, but to fulfill its potential it requires a genome ‘glue’ to efficiently and accurately insert incised genes into the genome. That ‘glue’ is the TAHITI system. I believe this may be the most impactful technology ever to have come out of the Danforth Center.” 

Spearhead Bio’s Scientific Advisory Board is comprised of leading industry experts, including: 

Larry Gilbertson, PhD, former biotechnology leader at Monsanto and BayerJerry Hjelle, PhD, President, Hjelle AdvisorsJon Lightner, PhD, MBA, former VP of Biotech at Pioneer Hi-Bred International

The oversubscribed Spearhead Bio financing round includes initial investors DTC, Rovaq Ventures, St. Louis BioGenerator, The Helix Fund, Hjelle Consulting Group and Alta Grow Consulting. Slotkin’s research team won the 2019 Danforth Center Big Ideas 2.0 competition, received four grants from the Danforth Center’s proof-of-concept fund, and was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation including the funding of a project to commercialize promising new research discoveries through the NobleReach Foundation. Research leading to the formation of Spearhead Bio and the invention underlying the TAHITI technology was published in the June 26, 2024 issue of Nature.

“We are excited to use our TAHITI technology to generate the next generation of improved crops, with the traits that farmers want, but with improved speed to market and consumer acceptance,” added Slotkin.

About Spearhead Bio
Spearhead Bio leads the next generation of powerful native genome engineering tools to accelerate the development and launch of new transgenic & non-transgenic crops. Learn more at spearheadbio.com 

About the Danforth Technology Company
The Danforth Technology Company (DTC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center that facilitates early-stage development of startup companies based on Danforth Center technologies. DTC connects research and discovery to commercial impact by catalyzing partnerships between scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors, and by providing initial management and financial support to its startups. Learn more at danforthtechnology.com 

About the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a nonprofit research institute with a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Research, education and outreach aim to have an impact at the nexus of food security and the environment, and position the St. Louis region as a world center for plant science. The Center’s work is funded through competitive grants from many sources, including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy, the Gates Foundation and through the support of individuals and corporations. Learn more at danforthcenter.org 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/danforth-technology-company-launches-genome-editing-startup-302454154.html

SOURCE Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

DUBAI, UAE, May 13, 2025 /CNW/ — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has announced the next phase of crypto innovation with the global launch of Bybit Pay. The ground-breaking crypto payment solution which debuted in Brazil is now available for all eligible global users of Bybit.

Bybit Pay Global: Joining the Crypto Payment Revolution

Initially launched in January 2025, Bybit Pay debuted in Brazil and recently presented itself at Web Summit Rio, where thousands of attendees got their hands on the instant payment solution at the Bybit booth. Starting now, over 70 million Bybit international users may live up their crypto lifestyle on the go with Bybit Pay. The expansion is a step forward in financial inclusion for Bybit’s global community, removing the need for costly legacy intermediaries and physical cards—all one needs is a compatible mobile device.

In a few days since its global launch, Bybit Pay recorded over 40,000 transactions. The digital payment gateway enables users to make payments across a global network of merchants online and offline. It currently supports 15 mainstream cryptocurrencies including USDT, USDC, BTC, ETH, XRP, MNT, BNB, TON, and more.

Bybit Pay has also released new features, Send and Receive:

Bybit Pay Send allows users to transfer digital assets to business or individual payees in an instant using just the recipient’s email addresses, phone numbers, or Bybit User IDs in-app and on the Bybit website.Bybit Pay Receive enables users to get paid with a unique personal QR code tailored for their personal preferences of desired amounts or currencies.

The Bybit Pay platform integrates wallet management functionalities for both fiat and crypto. Built with blockchain-backed security, Bybit Pay ensures tamper-proof transactions through on-chain encryption, optimizing security and user privacy.

Leveraging the instant finality of cryptocurrencies, Bybit Pay offers a seamless and secure on and off-ramp experience for senders and receivers of digital assets.

Bybit Send & Earn: 100,000 USDT in Prizes

From now until May 30, eligible users may register for Bybit Send & Earn to share in a total prize pool of 100,000 USDT. 

“Bybit is proud to play a role in advancing payment innovation with the global launch of Bybit Pay. It provides our users with an ultra user-friendly solution for their daily crypto spending and transaction needs, while Bybit gets to serve the broader community and bring more payment freedom and convenience to the underbanked,” said Krista Chan, Head of Marketing, Payment Business Unit at Bybit.

Bybit Pay currently serves global users who have successfully completed Identity Verification on Bybit. Users from Service Restricted Countries or local Bybit entities are not currently supported. For the latest updates and detailed terms and conditions, users may refer to the Bybit Pay official page.

#Bybit  #TheCryptoArk

About Bybit

Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 70 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com
For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bybit-pay-goes-global-seamless-crypto-payments-now-available-in-15-major-cryptocurrencies-302454153.html

SOURCE Bybit

TAIPEI, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — GIGABYTE, the world’s leading computer brand, continues to shine globally with cutting-edge innovation. Building on a legacy of international accolades such as the Red Dot and iF Design Awards, GIGABYTE now celebrates the COMPUTEX 2025 Best Choice Award for its latest flagship AI PC, the AORUS MASTER 16. Recognized for its next-gen AI capability, user-centric design, and immersive entertainment experience, this award further solidifies GIGABYTE’s leadership in the AI PC era and highlights its influential role in redefining how we create, play, and connect through intelligent computing.

At the core of the AORUS MASTER 16’s award-winning appeal is its ability to deliver exceptional AI computing performance without compromise. Equipped with the latest Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 Processor 275HX and up to NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5090 Laptop GPU, it enables cutting-edge capabilities such as real-time ray tracing, LLM inference, and AI-driven content generation. To sustain the high level of performance, the device features the industry-leading WINDFORCE Infinity EX cooling system with dual-fan architecture, up to 230W thermal capacity, Icy Touch keyboard zone, and 0dB ambient mode, ensuring optimal efficiency under pressure and comfort at all times.

For an immersive user experience, the AORUS MASTER 16 features a stunning 16-inch OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, Dolby Vision® HDR, and DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification, delivering ultra-vivid, color-accurate visuals ideal for gaming and creative workflows. The display also supports NVIDIA G-SYNC, ensuring tear-free, ultra-smooth frame delivery even in fast-paced scenarios. Audio is equally elevated with Dolby Atmos® and dual-force speakers, enhancing bass output by up to 20% and dynamically adapting surround sound for deep, cinematic immersion.

Elevating AI interaction, the AORUS MASTER 16 integrates GiMATE, GIGABYTE’s exclusive AI agent powered by a large language model (LLM). GiMATE simplifies laptop control through its intuitive “Press and Speak” feature, letting users manage performance modes, fan speeds, and audio profiles via natural voice commands. Furthermore, the onboard GiMATE Creator connects directly to Hugging Face, offering seamless access to the latest generative AI models, making it the industry’s first mobile design hub ready for AI experimentation and deployment.

The award-winning AORUS MASTER 16 will be showcased among GIGABYTE’s latest innovations at COMPUTEX 2025. To explore GIGABYTE’s full range of integrated AI solutions, visit https://bit.ly/COMPUTEX2025_GIGABYTE. For more details on consumer hardware products, visit https://bit.ly/GIGABYTE_Event_COMPUTEX2025 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gigabyte-aorus-master-16-ai-pc-wins-computex-2025-best-choice-award-for-industry-leading-innovation-302452364.html

SOURCE GIGABYTE