DNA – GMO SAFETY

Tomato Research Made Easier For Scientists

Tomatoes are one of the most commonly used plants in the process of genetic modification and experimentation. Researchers have been altering them for decades because they have a clear genetic structure so it comes as no surprise that a large number of scientific breakthroughs were made with this plant. However, scientists working at Boyce Thompson Institute managed to speed up the process of gene modification on tomatoes by exactly six weeks, which will make them even more popular for testing.

So how did they manage to do so? Researchers simply stumbled on this discovery while trying to make tomato plants more fertile. The team that was working on this project tried introducing DNA to a tomato in order to create a brand new plant. Auxin which is a hormone that speeds up the growth changed things up and it was responsible for the faster development of this plant. Therefore, the entire process of genetic modification was quicker as well.

Usually, the undertaking lasts for seventeen weeks. The scientists introduce new DNA to the tomato seed by inserting Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The modified cells directly influence the regeneration medium that is in charge of nutrients which are needed for a healthy development of a brand new plant xnxx. The modified plant is kept away from the soil for some time in order to grow roots. They are planted as soon as they are ready.

The new method shortens the length of the rooting process, completing the whole procedure in just eleven weeks. So why is this new approach useful for the researchers? Having in mind that tomato is frequently used for genetic modification, scientists will be able to closely monitor the growth of the plant and observe the changes that happen on both inside and the outside. Additionally, it will reduce the costs of the experiments, save time, and allow them to work on several projects at once.

Also, researchers will be able to test various other modifications and apply them to numerous plants that can solve various global problems, including the widespread of hunger and poverty in the third world countries. We are all aware of the issues that people in those countries face on a daily basis, and having a better understanding of the food production can revolutionize the agriculture all over the globe. There will be no need for financial aid from the developed countries once the steady production begins.

Understanding the DNA of a certain crop is the major step forward in creating crops that can survive harsh environment, and tomatoes are one of the best plants to use for analysis. Speeding up the development process will let scientists have more finances to fund other projects that might upgrade and enhance the food production in the future and ultimately provide us with a complete understanding of the GMO and the way they work. This finding will surely speed up the research that is currently underway at Boyce Thompson Institute and we can expect great things from the scientists that are working there.

USDA Not Inspecting Anti-Browning Mushrooms

Technology that deals with genetic modifications is constantly evolving. We have recently received the news that the new sort of mushrooms that contains edited genes will not be regulated by USDA and will not require their approval in order to be mass produced. You might be wondering why and here is the answer – Yinong Yang, professor of plant pathology at Penn State developed and used a new form of modification that is absolutely harmless.

The technology which was applied is called CRISPR-Cas9 which stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, and it is a brand new way of genetically modifying the organisms. What makes it so special? Well, the most common way to modify an organism is to introduce the foreign DNA to the genes, whether they come from bacteria or other organisms. CRISPR-Cas9 makes sure that there are no transgenes in the final version of the organism because they target a single genome with a DNA modifying enzyme. The result is a “clean” genetically modified organism.

Yinong Yang worked on a mushroom that doesn’t turn brown as it age. He specifically altered the gene that is in charge of producing that brown color within a mushroom. With eliminating this aging factor in the mushroom, we now have a product that will last longer and be resistant to both ripening and being damaged by mishandling in the supermarkets. Plus, there is no foreign DNA involved.

The decision made by USDA surely did spark a debate among the people who are firmly against genetically modified food, but Yinong Yang is sure that his research is completely safe and that it will revolutionize the agricultural production due to the fact that in theory, CRISPR-Cas9 can be applied to any given crop and it will greatly improve it.

As a matter of fact, CRISPR-Cas9 can make crops stronger and more resistant to various diseases and pests. It can also make them survive droughts, unfavorable conditions, and drive them to utilize the surrounding elements to their advantage. CRISPR-Cas9 can also make crops use nitrogen and phosphorous more efficiently in order to grow.

The development of this new GMO technology can become the future or agriculture. The tests have shown that it is completely benign and it can do wonders for various plants and crops. Therefore, it will be pleasing to both scientist who are working with GMO and those who strongly oppose any sort of modifications.

Yang also hopes that his discovery and usage of CRISPR-Cas9 will finally end the debate whether GMO is safe or not. It most certainly has the potential to be used on a greater scale. However, CRISPR-Cas9 still requires FDA’s approval and it will be submitted for inspection in the near future. FDA needs to take a closer look at all new products and we are sure that they will be fascinated with the safe anti-browning mushrooms just like the rest of us.

FDA needs to put their stamp of approval before any sort of mass production can begin and they will very likely take their time with this one. Even though CRISPR-Cas9 seems to be entirely harmless, there are plenty of tests that needs to be conducted and the never ending debate about the safety of genetically modified foods and products will most certainly continue.

Yang will carry on with his efforts of testing out CRISPR-Cas9 on other plants as well, trying to perfect the small flaws and see if it actually works. We hope that FDA will test Yang’s discovery as soon as possible, reach the verdict quickly, and that the anti-browning mushrooms will hit the shelves in the near future.

Genetically modified plants

The aspect of genetic engineering is not something new. For a century now, farmers have depended on selective breeding techniques and cross-fertilization to alter plants and animals to give rise to particular traits that are deemed desirable. This is aimed at improvement of food production as well as human health hence creating a food secure and disease free planet. In this case, the use of biotechnology is central to achieving these goals both in the agricultural and medical system. The use of these biotechnological techniques in agriculture includes bio-fertilization; marker assisted breeding, tissue culture as well as transgenic.

For instance, scientists have been able to utilise the traditional fermentation methods in the process of transforming grains into bread and beer; and milk to form cheese thereby contributing to food security and alleviation of poverty. Transgenic applications, on the other hand, involve the process of modifying the genetic makeup of one organism by introducing a gene of interest from another organism. This technique has been widely exploited in the modification of a wide range of plants, animals, and micro-organisms. The products of these genetically engineered plants are used as vaccines, drugs, foods, food additives, among other purposes. The biotechnological modification of these plants may be beneficial in molecular diagnostics, drug delivery approaches, and bioinformatics among other techniques beneficial to humans. Additionally, this can be used as a way of bioremediation of the surrounding environment.

GM Crops

Bt Cotton

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a bacterial toxin naturally occurring in the soil. This gene has been isolated for production of the bacterium that in turn is used for genetic modification of cotton and maize. The main reason for this kind of change is to increase their resistance to pests. Since 1997, farmers in South Africa have relied on cotton growing for their upkeep. However, since the introduction of the Bt cotton that showed pest resistance traits, over 70 % of the farmers were growing Bt cotton by the end of 2003. This led to a yield increase of over 20 % while limiting the amount of chemicals used in the control of pests.

Potatoes

Many poor communities in developing countries cannot afford vaccines and even the local clinics in remote areas do not have the infrastructure for the appropriate storage of the vaccines. This poses a significant challenge to safeguarding the health of millions of children and adults across the globe. Scientists have exploited potatoes for the development of edible cholera vaccines against the deadly cholera disease causing severe diarrhea in patients. Part of the cholera bacterium can be recognized by the human immune system and thus could be used for development of vaccines. This gene was transferred from the bacterium and engineered into potatoes so that it is consumed as a vaccine.

However, the primary challenge is the fact that people do not consume raw potatoes. The hope thus has been that even in cooked potatoes, the vaccine is still active and thus upon consumption, the vaccine triggered the immune system to produce antibodies against them and thus offering protection against cholera infections. This is cost effective, less labor involved and the fact that the delivery system of the vaccine into the body is not invasive.

Rice

Research has been done in the creation of genetically modified rice with high levels of beta-carotene. This was an inspiration from the bright yellow daffodil and the mechanism it employs in the production of beta-carotene. There was evidence that rice has the molecules that are required for manufacture of bête-carotene but does not have the enzyme that rearranges in the kernels. Can rice be engineered with this gene to make it work? Researchers managed to insert the genes into two Agro-bacteriums. The bacteria were then infected on the rice, and soon Golden rice was produced carrying the three genes. Selection of the golden rice was quite easy because the rice kernels had a golden glow thus providing sufficient Vitamin A for a human health.

Another rice project focused on improving the efficiency of CO₂ to boost its productivity. This involved relying on the photosynthetic pathway of rice. The gene derived from corn was transferred into rice for the CO₂ pump protein synthesis. This led to the faster growth rate of rice and over 35 % lusher grain production due to efficient utilization of CO₂. This technique can also be used in the future on such plants as potatoes, wheat, and oats among other cereals that have poor CO₂efficiency.

Maize

Years ago, farmers discovered the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) infected and killed the caterpillars that often destroyed their crops. This bacterium produces a protein that is not harmful until it transforms in the stomach of the caterpillars due to protein lock action. Scientists, therefore, came up with a way of inserting the gene that codes for the BT protein into crops such as maize to prevent destruction by caterpillars. The gene codes for the protein in the leaves of the plant and hen the caterpillars feed on the leaves, they die. This is a pesticide-resistance strategy thus protecting crops from pest destruction. This approach gave rise to GM maize resistant to parasites and thus ensuring food security in different parts of the world.

Many people believe that GM plants are quite unnatural and thus the reason for the heated disputes and debates across the media houses around the globe. However, there are some that believe that the most promising approach is through sustainable organic farming rather than the gene revolution technological approaches. The aspect of genetic engineering of plants has paved the way for improved nutrition content of foods, improved resistance to pests by crops as well as drought resistance, It is, therefore, important that we all stop debating and tap into the DNA language of genes. This is by only learning the most beneficial ways of practicing plant genomics to catalog all genes that possess desirable traits while eliminating harmful genes. The results of which is promising in leading to the production of safe foods for human consumption, food security and poverty eradication.