A recently published Chinese study has called attention to just how many unexpected side effects result from new genetic engineering (NGT) applications in rice. The researchers targeted so-called zinc-finger proteins which play an important role in controlling gene activity. The proteins are associated with important functions in plants, such as responses to environmental stress, flower induction, growth and germination. The application of NGT caused a broad range of unintended effects.
It was found that the CRISPR/Cas gene scissors also caused changes in off-target DNA sequences, and the plants exhibited considerable genetic instability in passing the genetic alterations to following generations. In addition, the effects of the NGT applications were very different even when the same gene sequence was altered.
The genes targeted in the NGT applications belong to a group that codes for transcription factors (zinc-finger proteins), which occur in all plant species and control the activity of important genes. In 2022, it was already published that with the help of CRISPR/Cas, rice was altered in its zinc-finger genes to increase yield. This NGT rice showed a new genotype that could not be detected in any natural populations despite hundreds of varieties were screened.
According to Testbiotech, these publications clearly demonstrate the need for the mandatory risk assessment of NGT plants. Currently, risks associated with intended or unintended genetic changes caused by the processes of genetic engineering have to be assessed as part of the EU approval process. The aim is to avoid as far as possible negative effects on health and the environment.
However, the European Commission proposed to abolish risk assessment for a wide range of NGT plants. The information provided by companies on the safety of NGT plants could then no longer be assessed independently. This would inevitably allow risks to the environment, food production and plant breeding to gradually creep in and accumulate unnoticed. Testbiotech is therefore calling for the Commission’s proposal to be rejected. However, at present, the Polish Council Presidency is campaigning for the EU member states to agree to the deregulation of NGT plants.
Contact:
Christoph Then, info@testbiotech.org, Tel + 49 151 54638040
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