TESTBIOTECH Background 17 – 02 – 2024

The GMO Panel assessed the herbicide tolerant maize DP915635, which produces an insecticide and the selectable marker gene PMI (EFSA, 2024a). This event was developed to confer resistance to glufosinate and produce the IPD079Ea toxin derived from the Ophioglossum pendulum fern. The toxin is intended to be active against corn rootworm. The genetic intervention involved a multistep process using CRISPR/Cas to introduce a ‘landing pad’ at the target site, where the gene constructs for the production of new proteins (new traits) are subsequently inserted.