Patent ID: 7671252

Claim:
An isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7; b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 8; c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7 and wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes a Δ6 fatty acid desaturase molecule capable of converting linoleic acid (18:2) to gamma-linolenic acid; d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7 and wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes a Δ6 fatty acid desaturase molecule capable of converting linolenic acid (18:3) to stearidonic acid; e) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 8 and wherein the polypeptide is a Δ6 fatty acid desaturase molecule capable of converting linoleic acid (18:2) to gamma-linolenic acid; and f) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 8 and wherein the polypeptide is a Δ6 fatty acid desaturase molecule capable of converting linolenic acid (18:3) to stearidonic acid.