Biotech Updates

Non-bruising GE Potato Cleared for Sale by USDA

November 3, 2016

The GE potato that withstands bruising and browning has been cleared for sale by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to USDA, the GE potato is not considered as "regulated article" under federal law because it does not contain genes from plant pests.

The GE potato was developed by Calyxt, Inc. by introducing a TALEN reagent into potato protoplasts through polyethylene glycol mediated transformation followed by temporary expression of the TALEN reagent to achieve PPO gene knockout and regeneration of protoplast cells into calli and then whole plants. Thus, there is no foreign genetic material inserted into the final potato plant genome.

Read more from the USDA.