Biotech Updates

The full report on the global adoption of GM crops in 2019 authored by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications is now available.

TALEN Beats CRISPR-Cas9 in Editing Tightly-packed DNA

Genome editing tool known as TALEN was found to be 5 times more efficient than CRISPR-Cas9 at locating and editing genes in the densely-packed DNA called heterochromatin. Thus, it has more potential to address genetic defects in the heterochromatin such as sickle cell anemia,beta-thalassemia, fragile X syndrome, and others.

Researchers Work on Making Wheat and Peanuts Less Allergenic

Wheat and peanuts are among the "big eight" foods listed by the United States Department of Agriculture that cause 90 percent of food allergies. Sachin Rustgi, a researcher at Clemson University and a member of the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and his colleagues are using plant breeding and genetic engineering to develop less allergenic varieties of wheat and peanuts.

Gene-edited Canola Shows Resistance to White Mold

White mold, also known as sclerotinia, is a fungal pathogen that can affect 14-30% of canola fields every year and can reduce yields by up to 50%. Thus, researchers at Cibus used their Rapid Trait Development System (RTDS) which involves gene editing without incorporating a foreign gene in the crop, thus retaining its non-GM status.

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20th National Biotechnology Week Highlights Education, Innovation, and Commercialization (December 11, 2024)

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GM APPROVAL UPDATES

The Philippines approved the canola event LBFLFK for food, feed, and processing.
The Philippines approved the cotton event GFM cry1A for commercial cultivation.
Brazil approved the wheat event HB4 for commercial cultivation.
The Philippines approved the soybean event GMB 151 for food, feed, and processing.
The Philippines approved the eggplant event EE-1 for cultivation
The USA approved the canola event MON94100 for food and feed.

Visit GM APPROVAL DATABASE

Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.

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