Biotech Updates

Special Edition of M&M'S® with Sub1 gene

April 15, 2011

A special edition of M&M'S had Sub1 and SCUBA rice logos printed on the world famous candies. This was initiated by Dr. David Mackill, a former plant breeder at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) who discovered the submergence tolerance gene in rice varieties in Orissa and Sri Lanka. The gene encodes tolerance to flood, producing rice grains even after two weeks of submergence in flood. The gene is inserted into the DNA of Indian rice variety Swarna, leading to the formation of transgenic Scuba rice. Mackill now works at Mars Incorporated, the maker of M&M'S.

Read the original story at http://irri.org/news-events/irri-news/transferring-sub1-genes-into-special-edition-mm-s%C2%AE.