Aktuelles

“Golden Rice” especially attractive for pest insects?

Higher concentration of carotene benefits plant-feeding insects

24 September 2021 / Recent publications show that genetically engineered (GE) plants fortified with vitamins pose a specific challenge in risk research. A higher content of carotene can be an advantage for insects feeding on the plants. This could be amongst the problems with so-called ‘Golden Rice’, which is to be grown in the Philippines. It will be the first GE plant grown in the fields that will produce additional carotene to improve vitamin A intake via consumption.

New GE wheat to be tested in UK field trials

CRISPR plants reveal the complex risks of genome editing

6. September 2021 / Genetically engineered (GE) wheat with a supposedly reduced concentration of acrylamide after baking is to be tested in field trials in the UK. Scientists there have successfully used CRISPR/Cas to block a gene function involved in production of the amino acid asparagine, which is important for the concentration of acrylamide after baking. However, asparagine is also involved in seed germination, the growth of the plants, their stress responses and disease defences. As scientific publications show, the risks are complex and need to be assessed in detail.

Climate change: Genetic engineering accelerating the extinction of species?

International conference to discuss nature conservation and Synthetic Biology

1 September 2021 / Prior to an upcoming conference being held by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Testbiotech is warning of the environmental risks of genetically engineering populations of natural species. Against the backdrop of climate change, the release of genetically engineered bees, corals or trees may appear to provide easy short-term solutions. However, in the long-term, these technical interventions may make species and ecosystems even more vulnerable to diseases and environmental stress.

Ten approvals for the import of genetically engineered crops rushed through

EU Commission takes controversial decision during the summer break

22 August 2021 / The EU Commission has rushed through ten approvals for the import of genetically engineered (GE) plants. The approvals were issued for maize, soybeans, oilseed rape and cotton, which produce insecticidal toxins and/or are engineered to be resistant to herbicides such as glyphosate; the approvals include seven new variants of GE plants and three renewals. The applications were filed by Monsanto (Bayer), Dow AgroSciences (Corteva) and Syngenta (ChemChina).