New ISAAA Double Helix Magazine Focuses on Gene Editing

ISAAA Inc., through the Philippine Department of Agriculture Biotechnology Program Office's Know The Science: Strengthening Biotech Links project, has released the second issue of Double Helix, the first and only magazine supplement on agricultural biotechnology (agbiotech) for senior high school students taking the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand in the country.

Double Helix was developed for senior high school students to help introduce them to a variety of topics on biosciences that could be interesting to them. The magazine offers short and well-written articles with illustrations to complement the topics in each issue. The maiden issue of Double Helix was launched in September 2022 and covered topics on biotech crops and genetic engineering. It has been highlighted in the exhibit during the 2022 National Biotechnology Week in November, reaching more students from different regions in the country.

The second issue of Double Helix focuses on gene/genome editing, one of the new breeding techniques that scientists use to develop better crop varieties in less time. The magazine explains how gene editing works and presents two gene editing tools — CRISPR and TALENs. Also included in this issue are the current gene editing R&D initiatives in the country that are being conducted in various institutions. An article in the magazine also presents the genome-edited products in the market, including Calyno^TM High Oleic Soybean Oil, Sicilian Rouge High GABA tomato, "Madai" red sea bream, and the pufferfish "torafugu." Lastly, this issue's Science Activity, What is DNA? is an illustrated guide that allows students to do a simple DNA extraction exercise in class or even at home. Some of the magazine's pages contain QR codes for information materials published on the ISAAA Inc. website that are related to the feature articles.

Double Helix magazine is free to download from the ISAAA Inc. website. It is also free to use, and interested high schools can get in touch with the ISAAA Inc. team if they want to use the magazine in their instruction. A Teacher's Companion that includes a guide to related ISAAA Inc. publications and suggested quizzes on specific page topics is also available to help teachers navigate through the magazine's pages.

Double Helix is available for free download on the ISAAA Inc. website. For inquiries, send an email to double.helix@isaaa.org.